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In three weeks time voters will go to the polls to elect MEPs who will represent the region in Europe.

Today Labour launched its campaign in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire calling for a fairer deal for people who rent from private landlords.

David Hirst reports:

A Rotherham peer has resigned from the Labour Party claiming he's the victim of a conspiracy to discredit him. Lord Ahmed is accused of making anti Jewish statements, something he strenuously denies. He says he was not given the chance of a fair hearing. Paul Burland reports.

Lord Ahmed - who has resigned from the Labour Party - said he was "very disappointed" with the way he had been treated by Labour.

Lord Ahmed said he had "never been anti-semitic" and had "unreservedly apologised" for any offence caused to the Jewish community.

He added his "heart" is still with the Labour Party.

The Rotherham peer was due to face a hearing over allegations he made anti-Semitic comments in a TV interview.

A Rotherham peer caught up in a race row has resigned from the Labour Party.

He handed in his resignation days before he was due to face a hearing over allegations that he made anti-Semitic comments in a TV interview.

Lord Ahmed was due to appear before Labour's ruling National Executive Committee on Wednesday to answer accusations that he blamed Jewish people for his dangerous driving jail term.

He insists he does not recall making the alleged comments, and his solicitor Stephen Smith said he would not be able to receive a "fair trial" from the Labour panel.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "I can confirm that he has resigned from the party."

Lord Ahmed was suspended from the party in March after reports he blamed his prison sentence in 2009 - for sending text messages shortly before his car was involved in a fatal crash - on pressure placed on the courts by Jews "who own newspapers and TV channels".

The Muslim peer allegedly told an Urdu-language broadcaster in Pakistan the judge who jailed him for 12 weeks was appointed to the High Court after helping a "Jewish colleague" of Tony Blair during an important case.

Mr Smith questioned the reliability of the evidence against Lord Ahmed, saying: "The evidence is flawed, in my view it is unreliable and yet they seem to be accepting it as right. In those circumstances I don't think he can get a fair trial."

Lord Ahmed, a Labour peer, from our region has strenuously denied offering a ten million pound bounty for the capture of US President Barack Obama.

Lord Ahmed of Rotherham was quoted as making the remarks by a newspaper in Pakistan - and he's been suspended by his party.

He claims it is fabrication.

A Labour peer has denied offering a ten million pound bounty for the capture of US President Barack Obama. Lord Ahmed of Rotherham was quoted as making the remarks by a newspaper in Pakistan - which has led to his suspension by the Labour Party.

The Labour party have issued the statement below regarding the suspension of Lord Ahmed