SIR KEIR Starmer’s team are being probed over claims they hacked the party’s membership data.
Labour bosses reported the alleged foul play, sparking civil war in the party.
2
2
They accused two of Sir Keir’s team of “data-scraping” — hacking the membership database to help them drum up more support for the Labour leadership frontrunner.
Sir Keir last night branded the allegations “nonsensical”.
And furious allies suggested he was the victim of a dirty tricks campaign.
The bitter row erupted as the Labour shadow Brexit boss pulled out of campaigning events at the weekend after his mother-in-law died.
‘Nonsensical allegations’
Sir Keir, a senior lawyer and head of the Crown Prosecution Service before he became an MP, wrote to Labour to deny the allegations.
He said his team were merely investigating a means of penetrating the database — called Dialogue — and did not plan to use any of the material.
The two team members have been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office. But a spokesman for Sir Keir said: “We categorically reject these nonsensical allegations.”
A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes its legal responsibilities for data protection extremely seriously.”
Labour general secretary Jennie Formby has written to all the leadership candidates, and the party is probing the allegations.
An ICO spokesman said: “We will be making enquiries.”
Sir Keir is currently storming ahead in the leadership contest.
