A LABOUR councillor sidelined by the party while an investigation into abusive emails she sent to a colleague is carried out will represent her ward as an independent candidate.

Councillor Anita MacDonald, who represents West Drayton, was suspended in December for what the council’s standards committee report described as a ‘vicious, unprovoked’ attack on fellow councillor Janet Duncan (Yeading) in a series of emails copied to Labour group members.

She returned to full council duty on January 13, but only as an independent candidate while the London Labour group looks into the dispute and decides whether to impose further punishment. She remains a member of the Labour Party.

Councillor Peter Curling (Townfield) said: “Party rules state that if a member is found to have broken a council’s code of conduct then that person has to be suspended pending an internal investigation.

“She is still a ward councillor but she can’t represent Labour until the party makes a ruling.”

In August 2010, Councillor Sid Garg was suspended by the Labour group after it emerged he had been cautioned by police for assault and criminal damage. He is expected to be fully reinstated in May.