Councillor mum of Eleanor Williams suspended by Labour

Allison Johnston, who represents Barrow Island, has been suspended from the party pending further investigation, it is understood.

She is the mother of Eleanor Williams who was convicted of perverting the course of justice after making claims she had been the victim of rape and human trafficking. 

Williams was found to have made false allegations she had been trafficked and sexually exploited by an Asian grooming gang, fabricating evidence to back up her story. 

Cllr Johnston, who was elected onto Barrow Council in 2011, has now been suspended by the national Labour party.

She still holds her seat on the council with her term due to end in May. 

Labour refused to comment on her suspension but it was confirmed by sources. 

A Labour spokesman said: “The party does not comment on internal party matters and any complaints are investigated in line with our rules and procedures.”

Williams, 22, was convicted of eight counts of perverting the course of justice after a three-month trial at Preston Crown Court. 

She insisted throughout the trial that her claims of being raped, trafficked and beaten were the truth. 

Following the trial, Cllr Johnston said she still believed many of her daughter's claims.

"There were some things she claimed that I do believe were not true, there were parts of it that she made up," she told MailOnline.

"But I do believe that substantially she was telling the truth and she was the victim of abuse and trafficking.

"I also don't believe that Ellie inflicted those injuries on herself, she couldn't have caused them. Her throat was cut, her finger and ear were cut, she had 'rat' carved on her stomach."

The councillor was the recipient of more than £20,000 raised in 2020 to get "justice" for Williams.

She said earlier this month she was working with the fundraiser to allocate the money. Two charities it was earmarked for declined to accept it. 

Cllr Johnston declined to comment on her suspension.