A London MP candidate is facing calls to apologise after being pictured hanging a Labour party campaign banner on gravestones.
Darren Rodwell, the Labour candidate for Barking, was photographed tying promotional material to tombstones in the grounds of Barking Abbey.
Mr Rodwell, who is also the leader of Barking and Dagenham council, then posed for pictures with activists and prospective Ilford South MP Jas Athwal on Saturday.
Labour member Matt Lismore took the photos and said he was “shocked” at the “tone deaf” actions.
Tone deaf from @DarrenRodwell to hang his election banner from people’s gravestones in Barking Abbey.
— Matt Lismore (@MattLismore) October 21, 2023
As a labour member I am shocked that he and his team could have thought that this was acceptable.
Time and again he has shown us that he has no respect for the living… pic.twitter.com/AfEvVZMDft
Sam Holland, Tory candidate for Dagenham and Rainham, said Mr Rodwell should be suspended and called for him to “make a full apology”.
He told the Standard: “I am deeply shocked by these actions and what it says about Darren Rodwell’s judgment. This is offensive to so many residents across the borough.
"The people of Barking and Dagenham deserve better.”
Mr Holland has written to Sir Keir Starmer urging him to launch an investigation.
A Labour source said using the headstones to hang the sign was “clearly the wrong thing to do” and the party will be taking action.
Barking Abbey was established in the 7th century and was a royal monastery.
There are hundreds of gravestones and monuments in the grounds of the ruins and that of the Grade I-listed 13th century St Margaret's Church next door.
The banner has been removed.
Mr Rodwell has been contacted for comment.
