by Peter Frost

PLAYWRIGHT Ian Buckley has had his registration as a Labour supporter rejected, denying him a vote in the leadership election, because friends told the party he was a Green voter.

Mr Buckley contacted old political friend Mike Jackson, chairman of Watford Labour Party, to see if he could throw any light on the decision.

Mr Jackson told him the local party had been asked to provide details of political allegiances and canvassing returns.

They had informed Labour headquarters that they believed Mr Buckley had supported the Green Party in recent elections.

“I was surprised that you wished to register as a supporter, as there are significant differences between the social democratic and communist traditions,” Mr Jackson had said.

He added that Mr Buckley had declared himself a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn rather than the party.

“I voted Labour in the last general and local elections,” Mr Buckley told the Star.

“In the past I have worked hard for the Labour Party, even using my Watford home as committee rooms.

“I have voted Green in the past, but that was when the Labour Party was in its Blairite right-wing mess. As Labour came out of this I returned to voting Labour.

“I was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain before it folded almost a quarter of a century ago.

“It is pathetic for Mike Jackson to bring this up now. I feel, in fact, my rejection is simply part of a widespread strategy to disenfranchise supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.”

Around 4,000 would-be Labour Party supporters have now been rejected and lost their £3 registration fee.