The fiasco within Salford Labour Party continues to roll on, with a letter written to the Selection Committee members who shunned Sarah Brookes' in their shortlist of three candidates to stand for Hazel Blears' vacant seat at the next General Election.
Five candidates had secured nominations from branches, of which Sarah Brookes received four, putting her in joint second place with Sue Pugh, after Rebecca Long Bailey came top with seven nominations.
However, the Selection Committee of ten members* decided to shun Sarah Brookes and, instead, put forward Sophie Taylor, who only received one nomination, alongside Sue Pugh and Rebecca Long Bailey. Their decision is not subject to any kind of appeals process.
The letter to Selection Committee members, seen by the Salford Star, is written by Karl Brookes, Sarah's husband, and compares their actions to those of MPs caught in the middle of the expenses scandal, of which retiring Salford MP Hazel Blears was the poster girl…
Advising the Committee's members that his solicitors are pursuing a legal challenge to the decision, Karl Brookes, while declaring his self-interest, gives his reasons as wanting a wide choice of candidates…
"It is also because there is genuine widespread dismay, disbelief and in some cases, disgust that ten members made this decision to not short-list the five nominated candidates, without it appears, adequate, consideration for the more basic point of how would this look?
"By now, I do understand that the response will be words to the effect of: `All present and correct. Move along, there is nothing here to see'" he adds "Alas, we have been here before when 'the rules were the rules' e.g. MPs' expenses, and we all seemed to forget the obvious point of 'how it would look' then too and that is a point you may, or may not, wish to reflect upon."
Karl Brookes then sent solicitors letters to both the Director of the North West Labour Party and the General Secretary of the Labour Party, also seen by the Salford Star, asking for an explanation of the wonky selection process and requesting that the process is halted until it has been investigated. The letter added, cryptically…
"Recently our clients have been made aware of a series of allegations which they are led to believe were made at the Salford City Labour Group of Councillors meeting which took place on 14th July 2014. We understand that the integrity of the selection process was questioned. While our clients have no wish to comment on the allegations they do believe that the Labour Party is committed to the high standards of probity and would want you to be aware of these allegations…It is obviously important that transparency prevails in a situation such as this."
The only word from Sarah Brookes herself has been a recent post on her Facebook site which stated…
"As you may recall, four branches (Irwell, Langworthy, Ordsall and Pendlebury), representing around 150 of the 370 or so eligible members, nominated me. Even in the branches which did not formally nominate me, there was fantastic support for my candidature and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to get involved in this process, including the people who opted not to support me. It was a humbling experience and I was touched to have got this far…
"…Judging by the reaction of the many people who have been in touch with me, I do appreciate that this may come as a surprise. I also understand that some members have contacted the regional office, to put on record their dismay and disbelief over this decision.
"However, having discussed the matter at length with the Regional Office representative, Noel Hutchinson, I can confirm that there is no appeals process and no requirement for the Selection Committee to explain the rationale for their decisions. Though you may be aware that there have been examples of intervention e.g. Falkirk and Cannock Chase…"
In answer to the post, Salford Labour councillor Howard Balkind wrote… "I am as you know a Rebecca Long Bailey supporter. Although everyone says the selection committee was unbiased. I totally disagree…"
And candidate Jacqueline Robinson, who failed to get nominated, added: "I am sorry to hear that you are no longer in the running - it seems to be very unfair as you did have 4 nominations and Sophie Taylor only had 1 - I can't understand it. It does appear from an outsider point of view (although I was brought up locally) that the decision has already been made."
The selection process for Hazel Blears' safe Labour seat in Salford and Eccles has been fraught with fiasco. As well as the nomination controversy, Matt Finnegan, Salford Council's `politically restricted' head of communications, resigned following a Salford Star article about him pushing emails supporting candidate Rebecca Long Bailey (see previous Salford Star article – click here).
As Karl Brookes stated, `How does this look?'
* Members of the Selection Committee included councillors Paul Wilson, Sareda Dirir, Gina Reynolds, Stephen Hesling, Tanya Burch, Neil Blower plus ordinary members Amy Coffey, Gary Buckden and Elza Hingston
See also previous Salford Star articles…
• Salford Council Politically Restricted Head of Press Spins for Labour Party Candidate – click here
• Salford Labour MP Candidates Salford Star Survey – click here
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