Marc Wadsworth, the Labour activist expelled from the party for bringing it into disrepute, has appeared in court on sexual assault charges. The charges relate to an alleged incident separate from his expulsion.
Wadsworth was expelled after accusing Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth of working 'hand in hand' with the media to undermine Labour at the launch of an anti-Semitism report. Labour's National Constitutional Committee found he breached party rules.
Mrs Smeeth welcomed the expulsion, calling it a 'first step towards a return to the values of decency and respect'. Wadsworth said he would consider a legal challenge, describing himself as an 'old friend and comrade' of Jeremy Corbyn.
The new charges against Wadsworth are understood to be unrelated to his political activities. He is due to appear in court at a later date.
