A community group has called for a Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP to be suspended – after she accused them of having a 'clear alignment with Reform UK'. Stoke-on-Trent South MP Allison Gardner has told Lightwood Community Group that she will no longer engage with them directly, following a row relating to the city's draft local plan.

In response, the group has claimed Dr Gardner made defamatory comments about them in a letter, and says she should be investigated by Parliament and the Labour Party. The community group is currently campaigning against proposals to earmark Green Belt land at Lightwood for up to 3,000 homes in Labour-run Stoke-on-Trent City Council's local plan.

Dr Gardner attended a recent public meeting organised by the group, where she objected to a community group member reading out a letter from Reform UK, which expressed support for the group's campaign. The row escalated, leading to Dr Gardner telling the group in a letter that she would no longer engage with them directly due to the tone of recent communications and accusing them of political bias.

In the letter she said group chair David Evans had been in contact with senior figures at Reform, and claimed that reading out the letter undermined 'the focus on non-partisan community-led discussion'. But the group has hit back, accusing Dr Gardner of politicising the issue, and claiming that it has always looked to work with MPs and councillors of all parties.

In an open letter to Dr Gardner, group member Paul Watkins says: "It is with deep regret that you have chosen to walk away from communicating with the elected Lightwood Community Group. You are clearly looking to make this political, when the reality is that you are the only person making this issue political. This is most disappointing because the Lightwood Community Group have always worked across and with all political parties

"Your letter is littered with factual inaccuracies, and this is most disappointing from someone in your position. We firmly believe your letter to be a case of defamation against the Lightwood Community Group, and this is libellous. Because of this written and worrying letter from you we are asking the House of Commons, Committee on Standards and Sir Keir Stamer, Prime Minister to investigate this matter as a matter of priority. We would suggest that while any investigation is undertaken you should be suspended from continuing in your position of Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South."

Mr Watkins also criticised Dr Gardner for 'locking down' her Facebook page and not allowing replies to a recent statement on the row.

But Dr Gardner says that she has received an increased amount of 'hostile, abusive and threatening' comments in recent weeks, some of which have been reported to the police. She also says her office manager's home was vandalised with 'politically motivated materials'.

Dr Gardner said: "I'm deeply disappointed that the group has misrepresented my position and intentions. I've always taken a consistent careful, balanced approach to this complex issue. I remain committed to working with my constituents, and the council to ensure factors of concern such as infrastructure, traffic, and green space retention are addressed. I will also be pressing the council, should the site remain in the draft local plan, to reduce the number of homes proposed from 3000 – as I feel this is far too many.

"Some of the claims made by the group are false and seem designed to distract from concerns I've raised about their platforming of Reform UK – including reading a letter out from Reform UK at a public meeting attended by hundreds of constituents and which was livestreamed. Additionally, in front of staff members in my office, their chair noted he had correspondence with Reform UK figures via LinkedIn, prior to this letter materialising.

"I've offered the group opportunities to engage constructively, including the use of my office and administrative support, but these offers have not been fully taken up. I have never tried to silence anyone – I simply expect discussions to be conducted with respect."

Dr Gardner added that the group would be welcome to raise the matter with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and that her 'record and conduct speak for themselves'.