Pro-Corbyn union chief left 'shocked' after Labour Party suspend him over Twitter post

A Jeremy Corbyn supporting trade union chief has been left "shocked" after being suspended from the Labour Party. Ronnie Draper, the general secretary of the Bakers' Union, told IBTimes UK: "I'm just shocked, I just don't know what to say.

"I haven't got a clue as to why I've been suspended, other than they say it's something to do with Twitter. But they haven't told me what I posted."

Draper, who backed a Leave vote at the EU referendum, said the party sent him an email to notify him of the suspension.

The decision means Draper cannot vote in the Labour leadership election between Corbyn and former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith.

The Bakers' Union, which has around 19,000 members, is affiliated to Labour. A party spokesperson told IBTimes UK: "We cannot comment on an individual's membership."

UPDATE: 18:57 BST

John McDonnell, the chair of the Jeremy for Labour campaign, has suggested that Draper has been a victim of a "rigged purge" by Labour.

"While Ronnie, a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, has been denied his say in Labour's election, no action is being taken over the Labour peer, Lord Sainsbury, who has given more than £2m to support the Liberal Democrats," McDonnell said.

"And no action has been taken against Michael Foster, the Labour party member who abused Jeremy Corbyn's supporters and staff as Nazi stormtroopers in the Daily Mail.

"Both will, as things stand, be able to vote in this election. Meanwhile, thousands of other members and registered supporters are reported to have been denied a vote without being given an explanation or opportunity to challenge the decision or process.

"Labour party members will not accept what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters. The conduct of this election must be fair and even-handed.