Police will take no further action, but Desai remains suspended by Labour
A police investigation involving London Assembly member Unmesh Desai has concluded with no further action to be taken, according to a statement released through his solicitor last week.
Ali Parker of Saunders Law issued the following statement on Mr. Desai’s behalf:
Between late December 2024 and today, I was the subject of a police investigation. I have not made any public comment on this until now.
I cooperated fully with the police investigation. I answered all of the police questions in interview, maintaining my innocence without any legal advice.
I have today been informed that police are taking no further action in my case. I have always maintained my faith in our system of justice and in the Metropolitan Police.
I have however been saddened that certain media outlets, political bloggers and users of X (formerly Twitter) have linked my name to this investigation before I was ever charged with any offence.
Allegations like this spread like wildfire across the internet. In my case, there were very good reasons for pre-charge privacy. It is not right that my name has been tarnished in this way.
The Labour politician, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2016, represents the City & East Assembly constituency, which includes Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Newham and Tower Hamlets. He currently sits on several important committees including budget and performance, transport, and police and crime. He served as a councillor in Newham from 1998 to 2018, holding a number of cabinet positions in Sir Robin Wales’ administrations.
During the investigation, the Labour Party placed Desai under “administrative suspension,” requiring him to temporarily sit as an Independent at City Hall. The suspension remains in effect pending resolution of a related complaint within the party. Desai has not said whether he would be challenging his suspension from Labour and the party has not commented on whether it will now lift it in the light of the Police decision.
The Metropolitan Police will not comment on the reason for the arrest. This aligns with a general rule, confirmed by the Supreme Court, that a person under criminal investigation has, prior to any charge being brought, “a reasonable expectation of privacy.
UPDATE (2 April 2025): Unmesh Desai has been re-instated by the Labour Party and is again sitting as a member of the Labour Group on the London Assembly.
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