Labour must do far more to tackle racism within its own ranks.

It can start by rejecting the application of Frances Barber, whose behaviour is self-evidently incompatible with Labour membership, including this *gratuitously* racist tweet which she then lies about sending.

To illustrate that she is in fact lying about not sending this genuinely disgusting racist tweet, here are people responding in shock and horror at the time (and there are more here https://twitter.com/search?q=francesbarber13%20until%3A2017-06-05%20since%3A2017-06-04&src=typed_query&f=live)

She has a history of sending horrendous tweets, like this one which is rampantly transphobic with an Islamophobic dogwhistle thrown in for good measure. Her application to the Labour party is now being celebrated by prominent people. This is just not acceptable.

Here is Frances Barber saying that Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan "wants women to be raped travelling home alone by banning the only safe form of transport available to them. He's been brought at the expense of us. He'll see."

Here's the tweet she's replying to for context.

There is such an abundance of examples, I'm not going to add anymore. But suffice it to say here is a test case: here is an actor who has said utterly disgusting things, and is currently being welcomed into the Labour fold by high profile individuals. This must not happen.