Suspended by Labour party

Abbey Wood councillor Ismail Danesi has been suspended indefinitely from the Labour Party after telling News Shopper a Greenwich Council consultation on Crossrail was misleading the public.

Rumours of the suspension were confirmed by Cllr Danesi, who says he is appealing against the decision.

In October last year he claimed consultation cards on the proposed rail line, linking east and west London, ignored Abbey Wood and focused on securing a station for Woolwich.

He suggested because the consultation did not mention plans for a station at Abbey Wood the council was trying to mislead people into backing Woolwich.

But he says Labour bosses in the borough took exception to his comments and suggested he had broken party rules by talking to the press.

When the party confronted him he told them he would consider running as an independent or with a residents' association at next year's elections if they kicked him out of the party.

But he says Labour members later suggested he planned to start a group of the far-right British National Party (BNP) in Abbey Wood.

Cllr Danesi totally denies saying anything about the far-right party and is planning to bring legal action against the people who linked him with the BNP.

He said: "All I'm interested in is representing the ward but this has disillusioned me. But I can't comment until my appeal is over."

The councillor was suspended for breaking the Labour Party rules at a disciplinary hearing in February and is currently appealing the decision with the London Party.

A Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party expects the highest standards of integrity from its councillors and has procedures for dealing with breaches of its rules. These procedures include the right of appeal which Cllr Danesi has exercised."

Cllr Danesi backed a Crossrail station in Abbey Wood saying it would provide a "fantastic boost" to the area.

In February the Government finally submitted a bill to Parliament to start the £10bn rail project.