Labour NEC member Peter Kenyon brings word from Nottingham East* where there are rumblings of local discontent over the selection. Last night it was decided to have an open (not women-only) shortlist.
That clears the way for a face-off between Jonathan Ashworth, a political adviser from Downing Street, John Collins, local council leader, and Chris Leslie, head of the New Local Government Network and – apparently – favourite of the leadership. Leslie was part of the 1997 intake but didn’t last long. Prepare for fratricide.
* Kenyon writes:
Applicants to represent the Labour Party in the Nottingham East parliamentary constituency are not likely to have to face a hustings. Some 500 members in what many regard as a vibrant Constituency Labour Party are going to be denied a vote.
UPDATE
My colleague Tim Bradshaw meanwhile reports on the Labour PPC deselected for offensive use of Twitter.
Stuart MacLennan, candidate for Moray, has been sacked after making derogatory comments about “chavs” and so on. As Paul Waugh points out, MacLennan weirdly predicted his own demise, saying on Twitter recently:
“Iain Dale reckons the biggest gaffes will be made by candidates on Twitter – what are the odds that it will be me?”
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey