HACKNEY Mayor Philip Glanville has been suspended by Labour after the Morning Star published a photo of him partying with a former councillor — and rising figure of the party’s right — who had been arrested for possessing images of child abuse. 

Mr Glanville faced increasing calls to resign last night after being exposed for lying in public office about having no contact with his flatmate Tom Dewey since learning of his arrest for child sex offences.

He apologised for an “error of judgement” after the photo showed him taking a selfie at a Eurovision bash with Dewey — hours after he had been informed of the arrest by the council’s chief executive.

Mr Dewey, 36, was arrested a week before he was elected as ward councillor last May. The council informed Mr Glanville over the allegations against Mr Dewey after contact with the National Crime Agency (NCA), announcing his resignation for “personal reasons” two days later.

The nature of the arrest was only revealed in media reports of Dame Meg Hiller MP’s former election agent being charged last month, after which he pleaded guilty to all five counts of child sex offences and was given a 12-month suspended sentence and 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Hackney MP Diane Abbott has said she “shared [local party members’] concerns” over a cover-up by the Labour leadership after they were banned from discussing safeguarding concerns around Mr Dewey.

Hackney North CLP’s access to the party’s mailing system was suspended after raising the issue last month with Labour’s London director Pearleen Sangha.

Local Labour sources, who were kept in the dark about the allegations against him for more than a year, said today that an independent investigation into who knew what “has never been more urgent.”

One said: “There are internal issues for the Labour Party but more generally there are concerns for the dysfunction of the council.

“Our fear is that the Labour Party machinery will use this as a pretext for putting the constituency parties in both Hackney North and Hackney South under special measures of some form.

“It’s fair to say that the party has recent form for seizing on actual or alleged misconduct of individuals to impose control of constituency parties, particularly those who are more left wing.”

Hackney council's interim chief executive Dawn Carter-McDonald said: “The council is aware that the directly-elected Mayor of Hackney has been suspended from the Labour Party.

“According to the council’s constitution he remains the elected Mayor of Hackney. The council remains focused on ensuring we continue to provide the best services for our residents.”

Labour and Cllr Glanville have been approached for further comment.