Barckley Sumner

HOPES that an investigation into allegations of rule-breaking in Worsley and Eccles South would force Labour to tighten its selection procedures are diminishing.

Labour's National Executive Committee announced an inquiry after revelations in last week's Tribune of a host of alleged rule breaches in the selection contest between sitting MPs Barbara Keeley and Ian Stewart for the redrawn constituency. Many of the complaints made by Mr Stewart concern the alleged misbehaviour of party staff, who should remain neutral.
Despite this, a Labour spokesperson has confirmed that the three party officials named in the complaint will all continue to work on parliamentary selections while the inquiry is ongoing. The spokesperson added: "They [the inquiry team] are not investigating individual officers."

When asked if this amounted to a watering down of the inquiry, NEC chair Mike Griffiths said: "That is bullshit."

 Attention now turns to the contest in Morley and Outwood between sitting MPs Colin Challen and Ed Balls. The contest is due to the abolition of Mr Balls' Normanton seat, around a third of which transfers into the new constituency. Mr Challen represents Morley and Rothwell. Barrie Grunewald, the Yorkshire regional director, named in Mr Stewart's complaint, intends to begin the process today (Friday January 26), immediately after the new constituency's inauguralmeeting.

Meanwhile, following a call to Tribune, Ms Keeley inadvertently revealed fresh contentions. She admits that, on the eve of the distribution of ballot papers, she challenged the eligibility of 15 members from Mr Stewart's Eccles constituency. After an emergency meeting, it was discovered that nine members from her own Worsley constituency were also not entitled to vote. Ms Keeley conceded that the members in question "were in membership arrears". Despite this, party staff had initially been content to issue them with ballot papers.

At Tuesday's (January 23) NEC organisation sub-committee, it was agreed not to endorse Andrew Pakes as Labour's candidate in Milton Keynes North. The matter will be discussed again in March, following official complaints about the conduct of the hustings meeting.

 The organisation sub-committee also agreed which seats where Labour MPs have announced their retirement will be open or all-women shortlists. Open selections will be held in Bolton South East, Brighton Kemptown, Bristol North West, Easington and Swansea West. All women shortlists will be in place in Brighton Pavilion, Selby (a Tory marginal on newboundaries) and Sunderland Central.

The decision on whether Ealing Southall - where Piara Khabra is retiring - will select from an all-women shortlist, has been deferreduntil March.