Jared O'Mara: Labour MP suspended by party after series of offensive comments revealed

Sheffield Hallam MP under fire over claims he called a constituent an "ugly b****" just months before he was elected

Labour MP Jared O’Mara has been suspended by the party after a series of offensive comments he made in the past were revealed.

The party launched a probe on Tuesday into allegations the Sheffield Hallam MP called a constituent an “ugly b****” just months before he was elected – a claim he “categorically denies”.

It comes after Mr O’Mara had to resign from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee earlier this week following the emergence of racist, homophobic and sexist comments he made on online message boards more than a decade ago.

A Labour party spokeswoman said: “Jared O’Mara is suspended from the Labour Party pending investigation.”

Senior MPs criticised Mr O’Mara – who won former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg’s seat in the election – over news that constituent Sophie Evans claimed he called her an “ugly b****” and made transphobic slurs to her earlier this year.

He also wrote a series of online posts featuring gay slurs as well as racist and sexist abuse.

Speaking earlier this week, Mr O’Mara said he had made a “full and unreserved” apology to Labour MPs about the online remarks, and felt “deeply ashamed” of his past comments.

“Overwhelmingly, people accepted my apology, accepted my sincerity and remorse; they accepted I have been through a journey of education,” he said in an interview.

“I’ve stood down from the Women and Equalities Select Committee too – I think it’s the right thing to do. I don’t think I can continue on that committee when I feel so deeply ashamed of the man I was 15 years ago.”