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Labour suspends former weekly editor over ‘intimidation’ allegations

hadfieldA former weekly newspaper editor has had his membership of the Labour Party suspended over allegations of intimidation.

Greg Hadfield, who edited the Brighton & Hove Independent for two years, was elected sceretary of the party’s Brighton & Hove District branch in July, with more than 66pc of the vote.

However, he has now announced via a blog post that he has been suspended from the party.

Greg, pictured, left the Independent last November after it was taken over by Johnston Press in July 2015.

He wrote: “I confirm that I am the latest of many victims of the witchhunt against socialist supporters of Jeremy Corbyn within Brighton, Hove and District Labour Party (the City Party).

“After more than 10 years as a member of Labour in in our city, I have been suspended — for the second time in just over two years.

“Apparently, I have now been accused of ‘a pattern of behaviour, including intimidation of individuals, which is capable of bringing the Labour Party into disrepute’.

“Previously, I was suspended — on a similar fabricated charge — for 11 months, before it was decided that allegations against me, made by the party’s then regional director, did not even merit investigation.”

He added: “I am confident I will be found innocent again. Eventually. But only after I have been prevented from standing as a candidate in forthcoming elections.”

Greg began his career at the Wakefield Express in 1979 and went on to become chief reporter and news editor at the Western Morning News from 1983 to 1986, before moving on to the nationals.

He served as education correspondent at Today for two years before taking up the same role at the Sunday Times, where he later became news editor and assistant editor.

Greg became a senior investigative reporter at the Daily Mail in 1994, switching to the chief reporter role at the Daily Express two years later.

He also founded football website Soccernet with his then 12-year-old son Tom in 1995, which was later sold to ESPN for £25m.

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  • November 1, 2016 at 9:09 am
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    Not entirely surprising. The Brighton Indy was an odd paper under Hadfield – often seemed to be a vehicle for pursuing obsessions, such as troubles at the Argus and what were presumably spats with local councillors – mainly Labour ones I think.

    It was funny seeing him on Panorama – not sure if it was the editing which probably didn’t do him any favours but he did come across like a vindictive Mr Bean.

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