Labour group councillors in London borough of Enfield have been barred from meeting as investigation into serious allegations continues

The SKWAWKBOX has carried a series of exclusives on the Enfield council selections scandal, where Council leader Nesil Caliskan has been at the centre of an investigation by the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) into the ‘irregularities’ that occurred during the selection process to elect Labour candidates, including the deselection of all black candidates.

The beneficiaries of these and other ‘irregularities’ in a process overseen by Ms Caliskan then promptly elected her as the new council leader, ousting an incumbent popular across the local party. Ms Caliskan and her family are on the right of the party, close to now ex-Labour Enfield North MP Joan Ryan who last year lost a vote of no confidence after a membership rebellion. Caliskan’s sister, Eda Cazimoglu, was an unsuccessful candidate on the Labour First/Progress ‘slate’ in the recent NEC elections.

The complaints and and calls for an investigation into the numerous issues issues and Ms Caliskan’s role in them have come from a broad coalition of all wings of the party – including half of the Enfield Council cabinet and an array of other councillors. This is not a ‘left v right’ issue.

Those calls were heeded – and as the NEC’s investigation continues the Labour Party has taken the extraordinary step of suspending Enfield Council Labour group meetings, banning the group from holding any kind of meeting without the ‘express permission’ of the party’s Legal and Governance team.

The council leader initially attempted to deny the suspension, but it has been confirmed and will last until at least April.

The results of the NEC’s investigation into events at the council are expected at any moment.

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