A local Nottinghamshire Labour party has claimed its process for selecting a MP candidate was "rigged" by the national party. Councillor Greg Marshall, who represents Beeston West for the Labour Party on Broxtowe Borough Council, has said he was "blocked" from becoming Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Broxtowe at a selection committee on Monday, February 27.
The Labour Party, in response, said it would "make no apologies" over processes that made sure "everyone selected is of the highest calibre". The fallout from the claimed blocking of Mr Marshall has now led to the resignations of Broxtowe Labour's selection and executive committees, with statements condemning what they described as an overreach from the central Labour Party's National Executive Committee.
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, February 28, a statement from the CLP [Constituency Labour Party] Selection Committee said: "Following the decision by the NEC to impose on Broxtowe three out-of-area candidates, whilst simultaneously blocking a high-profile local candidate, we hereby resign as the CLP Selection Committee.
"The constituency Party has been side lined throughout the entire process and our choice of candidates has been rigged to suit the leadership's preference. This is unfair and runs contrary to the principles of democracy."
The statement concluded: "In short, London based officials have sidelined local Party members and decided for themselves who is worthy of representing Broxtowe constituents. This is an undemocratically centralised decision and one which we cannot support."
A separate statement detailed the resignation of Broxtowe CLP's Executive Committee. It added: "The Party has acted in bad faith and this is not something we can support.
"Broxtowe is a key marginal and sits on the edge of the so-called Red Wall. The road to government runs through the Midlands and local people deserve local representation."
Mr Marshall previously stood as the Labour candidate for Broxtowe in 2017 and 2019, which he called an "immense privilege". He was unsuccessful both times, losing out to Anna Soubry in 2017 and current Broxtowe MP Darren Henry in 2019.
In a statement, which was posted to his Twitter account, Mr Marshall said: "It is with huge disappointment that [on February 27] I was blocked by the Labour Party from standing to represent Broxtowe at the next general election. Despite having the backing of the vast majority of members in the local party, eight trade unions, society affiliates, and respected regional Labour figures from across the political spectrum, the Party has determined that I am unfit to stand.
"To add insult to this decision, I wasn't even informed directly by the Party but instead had to wait to be told by the CLP members on the Selection Committee." The councillor also highlighted that he was "born and raised in Broxtowe" and knew the constituency "like the back of [his] hand".
Mr Marshall added: "I have been blocked because the Party knew I would win. Although this is a tough pill to swallow, I will continue serving residents of Broxtowe as a councillor as I have for the last 12 years."
When Nottinghamshire Live contacted the Labour Party a spokesperson repeated the party's stance on the decision. A Labour Party spokesperson said: "Thanks to Keir Starmer's leadership, Labour is now a serious, credible government in waiting and our candidates reflect that. Robust due diligence processes have been put in place to make sure everyone selected is of the highest calibre and for that we’ll make no apologies.
“Labour has changed. Keir believes that politics can be a force for good, and that his government can restore the faith in it that 13 years of Tory government has carelessly eroded. The public rightly expect anyone asking to hold office is of the highest standard, and with Labour they can. We're really pleased that outstanding Labour candidates have already been selected in constituencies across Britain, and that work continues."
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