A COUNCILLOR who was placed under investigation and temporarily stripped of her party membership has been welcomed back in.

The Adver broke the story in June that the party membership of Ellen Osa (Lab, Walcot) had been frozen just one month after her historic victory in the May 6 election.

The Liberian-born businesswoman swept to power by a landslide, trouncing high-powered Tory rival Peter Mallinson and becoming the first black woman on the council.

The suspension was a shocking blow to the party, and threatened to sour what had been a key victory at the ballot box.

But now Labour bosses have lifted the ban on her representing the party, and reinstated her membership.

At no point did she ever lose her council seat, and she was seen attending meetings and sitting among colleagues in the Labour block on the benches of the chamber.

But she was formally not allowed to be a member of the party during the course of the investigation.

And yesterday evening the leadership was still keeping tight-lipped about exactly what the allegations were that led to her suspension in the first place, although the Adver understands that it was to do with her failing to disclose information about her fitness to stand as a candidate.

Coun Osa would not speak to the Adver, and neither leader Jim Grant (Western) or his deputy Mark Dempsey (Parks) could be reached.

The only information that came forward was from Lawrence Newman, a south west regional Labour organiser, who said in a statement: “Following the conclusion of an internal party investigation councillor Ellen Osa has now had her administrative suspension from the Labour party lifted, and her full rights as a party member reinstated.

“This includes the right to hold the Labour Party whip on the council, and hold office within and on behalf of the Labour party.”

It added: “A person under administrative suspension is not permitted to represent or hold office within the Labour party.

“The Labour party does not comment on internal party matters.”