Former Clark candidate Ben McGregor launches shock move against Labor leader Rebecca White

Former Labor candidate Ben McGregor has dropped a bombshell on party leader Rebecca White after she sensationally forced him to quit his election campaign.

LABOR Party Tasmanian president and former Clark candidate Ben McGregor has written to leader Rebecca White threatening to sue for defamation.

The Mercury can exclusively reveal lawyers served a defamation letter on Ms White and Labor Party secretary Stuart Benson on Friday afternoon.

Ms White, through her Labor spokesman, refused to comment.

Mr McGregor claims he was defamed when Ms White said he was not a fit person to stand for Parliament.

He was forced by Ms White to quit as a candidate over complaints about text messages he sent to a female colleague six years ago but which he said he had apologised for.

“The whole conversation was full of dark humour … at the time the person noted to myself during the conversation that she felt uncomfortable with the word I used,” Mr McGregor said at an emotional press conference during the week.

“At that time I apologised via text, and I said that I would not use that word again. I then subsequently apologised in person, the next chance I got, and then again at a later time. This person has not complained about the text message in the six years following.”

He said there was no allegation of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment.

Ben McGregor was forced to quit as a Labor candidate on Wednesday over text messages he sent six years ago. Picture: David Killick

That same day, Ms White said she had spoken to the complainant about the “incredibly serious” allegation and she had to take action.

“Too many women have been told they need to take a joke, the fact of the matter is the allegation that was raised with me was clearly inappropriate and I took action immediately,” she said.

“I don’t think he was a fit person to stand for a candidate for election for the Tasmanian parliament and that tells you everything you need to know.”

Mr McGregor believes he had been subject to a smear campaign and he had not been able to put forward his side of the allegation.

“Rebecca (White) has failed in providing leadership here,” Mr McGregor said when he announced he was quitting.

“She has seen an opportunity to rid herself of factional challenge.”

Labor leader Rebecca White. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr McGregor’s departure from the key seat of Clark was the latest of several debacles for Labor.

The party was forced to overturn an earlier decision to reject Kingborough mayor Dean Winter’s bid to stand in Franklin and Clark candidate Fabiano Cangelosi sent an email arguing against the party’s policies on pokies and protest laws.