Labour ‘pulls plug on campaign against Nigel Farage in Clacton’ amid sniping that Keir Starmer was jealous of his own party’s stylish candidate – dubbed ‘the best dressed in living memory’ [Video]

09:06 EDT 27 Jun 2024, updated 12:13 EDT 27 Jun 2024

Sir Keir Starmer was today challenged over claims Labour has pulled the plug on its general election campaign in Clacton against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Local party members vented their fury as they accused party bosses of ordering their Clacton candidate, Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, to campaign elsewhere.

The 27-year-old works for Labour’s external relations team and made headlines earlier this month as he was dubbed the ‘best dressed candidate in living memory’.

Pictures of Mr Owusu-Nepaul on the campaign trail – including an encouter with Mr Farage – went viral as social media users praised his sartorial style.

But, according to the Guardian, the attention he was getting rankled with officials in Labour HQ as it was ‘distracting’ from Sir Keir’s own campaign.

Mr Owusu-Nepaul is said to have since been ‘seconded’ to the West Midlands.

It has also been claimed that local activists in Clacton are banned …