left-leaning Labour MP has claimed a reselection contest has “sowed divisions” within the constituency occasion after he misplaced to a shadow minister.
Mick Whitley expressed “confusion and disappointment” on the National Executive Committee (NEC) determination to carry a vote on the candidacy of his Birkenhead seat.
Shadow employment minister Alison Mcgovern, whose present constituency of Wirral South shall be abolished attributable to a boundary evaluation forward of the subsequent basic election, gained the race.
Ms McGovern paid tribute to Mr Whitley in a press release following the outcome, describing him as as a “committed trade unionist and hardworking MP”.
She stated: “It has been an enormous privilege to represent the place and people that brought me up, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so as we look to the future, which will hopefully include the next Labour government.”
But Mr Whitley, a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus, stated of the NEC determination: “I do not believe that anyone who has our party’s best interests at heart could agree with a contest that pitted two sitting Labour MPs against each other, especially considering that the neighbouring seat of Wirral West will be vacant at the next general election.
“I am disappointed that this needless contest has sowed divisions in Birkenhead Labour Party at a time when all of our efforts should be focused on laying the foundations of a future Labour government.”
He is amongst a number of politicians from the left of the occasion who've misplaced out on candidacies in current months.
A row has flared up over the choice to dam Jamie Driscoll, the serving North of Tyne mayor who has been described because the “last Corbynista in power”, from operating in one other position within the area.
Figures on the left of the occasion blamed “factionalism” underneath Sir Keir’s management earlier than commerce union chiefs on Thursday accused it of a “monumental own goal” by barring Mr Driscoll from the lengthy checklist for the brand new North East authority.
Meanwhile, Welsh Labour MP Beth Winter advised the democratic course of has been undermined after shedding the choice contest for the brand new seat of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.
Ms Winter, additionally a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, stated she was “disappointed by this very close result and the unjust manner in which it came about, which leaves major questions outstanding”.
She misplaced to shadow Wales minister Gerald Jones.
Welsh Labour stated the boundary evaluation forcing two sitting MPs to compete was “regrettable” however defended the choice course of.
In an analogous assertion following the Birkenhead outcome, a North West Labour spokesperson stated: “Congratulations to Alison McGovern on her selection today. Thanks to Alison, fellow candidate Mick Whitley and all members across the new constituency of Birkenhead for taking part in the selection process.
“It is regrettable that the boundary review meant two sitting Wirral Labour MPs have been forced to stand against one another. The selection procedure was designed to give all members across the new seat a chance to take part in selecting their candidate and as a result we saw a very high turnout.”
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