A Labour frontbencher and member of who has campaigned against drugs has refused to sack her son as a staffer – despite him being convicted for possessing a stash of drugs with intent to supply.
Kate Osamor is still employing her son Ishmael Osamor, 29, as her Communications Officer despite him pleading guilty to the drugs charge at Bestival music festival in Dorset last year.
Ishmael has resigned as a councillor after being convicted of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.
And yesterday Commons Speaker John Bercow said he would consider stripping his Parliamentary pass from him after he failed to inform Parliamentary authorities of the drug conviction – as is required for all House of Commons pass holders.
The Sun also revealed that Ms Osamor, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, nominated Ishmael as a council candidate last year – after he was charged.
Ishmael, 29, stood down as a Labour councillor earlier this week. He pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis worth £2,500 at the festival last year.
Labour repeatedly refused to answer basic questions about Ms Osamor continuing to employ him.
A Labour spokesman would only say: “We don’t comment on staffing matters.”
Ms Osamor refused to take action against her son despite previously campaigning on an anti-drugs stance.
In 2013 she repeatedly tweeted a campaign slogan “Say no to drugs”
And she retweeted a campaigner who wrote: “I don’t smoke. I don’t drugs.”
In the Commons chamber Tory MP Simon Hoare asked the Speaker what action could be taken against a “passholder who has been found guilty of a drug-related offence”.
Mr Bercow replied: “I will deal with it sensibly.”
