Four Labour Activists Charged Over Alleged Croydon East Candidate Selection Manipulation
Four Labour Party activists have been charged by police following an investigation into allegations that a party database was manipulated to influence a candidate selection process.
Joel Bodmer, 40, who sought to become Labour's candidate for the Croydon East constituency, faces a charge of perverting the course of justice. This charge relates to alleged alterations of phone records.
The initial selection process for the parliamentary seat was abandoned in November 2023 due to alleged irregularities. A rerun occurred four months later, without Bodmer's participation.
Bodmer, alongside Shila Bodmer, 41, former Southend councillor Gabriel Leroy, 24, and former Croydon councillor Carole Bonner, 69, have all been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence under the Criminal Law Act and the Computer Misuse Act.
A Labour Party spokesperson confirmed that all four individuals have been suspended from the party pending the outcome of an internal investigation and legal proceedings. The party stated it had referred the matter to the police after identifying potential criminal wrongdoing.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated that sufficient evidence supported the prosecution and that pursuing criminal proceedings was in the public interest. He reminded all parties of the defendants' right to a fair trial and cautioned against reporting or commentary that could prejudice proceedings.
Mr Bodmer is employed as a regional organiser for the trade union Unison, from which he is currently on unpaid leave. All four defendants are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 19 May.
