Labour has pulled out of a hustings event due to take place in Silvertown tonight.

The meeting, which is due to include three mayoral candidates as well as two MEP candidates, is being run by HACAM East, who represent those living under the City Airport flight path.

A Newham Labour spokesperson said: “Newham Labour will not be at the meeting on Monday evening, organised by two self-appointed organisations that deliberately misrepresent the views of the council and those elected to it.

“These groups are fully aware that any expansion of London City Airport is currently subject to a planning application.

“As the planning authority, Newham Council has written to more than 25,000 local homes asking for their views on the proposed expansion of London City Airport and will listen carefully to these and other responses as part of a proper process.

“By contrast, we were not even consulted about the date or time of Monday’s meeting and are already fully committed that evening to meeting hundreds of residents across Newham as we continue our campaign to elect a Labour Mayor of Newham, local Councillors and MEPs.”

Tonight’s hustings will allow residents to pit questions to the candidates, with the future of the airport being the focus.

Confirmed speakers are MEP candidates Jonathan Fryer, representing the Liberal Democrats, and Caroline Allen of the Green Party.

Conservative mayoral candidate Stefan Mrozinski, TUSC candidate Lois Austin and Alex Ocan Latim, who is standing for the Christian Peoples Alliance, are also taking part.

The hustings will take place at Britannia Village Hall, West Silvertown, at 7.30pm.

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