Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, responding to the suspension of Tory candidate Afzal Amin, said:

“Decent people in politics share the wide consensus that the EDL are quite simply despicable. These allegations regarding such a senior Conservative Party figure in Afzal Amin are quite simply jaw dropping.

“Given these allegations the Tory Party should take immediate steps to suspend Mr Amin from membership.

“What’s more the Tory Party must also investigate who else might have been involved.

“The Tory campaign is tonight mired in deeply damaging allegations, such as those against Mr Amin and the ongoing controversy surrounding Tory Chairman Grant Shapps. As the Tories turn in on themselves, beset by problems of their own making, only Labour has a better plan for a better future.”