A Scottish Labour councillor has said the party's selection process for a probable by-election was a "farce" and "profoundly undemocratic" after three "leading candidates" were not allowed to stand.
Martin Lennon said he was "shocked that the top three most popular candidates locally were all blocked" from standing in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
He also said he was yet to speak to a local member who was not "upset" by the process.
Rutherglen and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Labour parties made a formal complaint to UK-wide leader Keir Starmer and Scottish leader Anas Sarwar about the selection following a meeting on Friday.
Councillors Mo Razzaq, John Carson and trade unionist Leah Stalker were all excluded from the selection process.
At the same time, Michael Shanks has been allowed to stand despite quitting the party in 2019.
Voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West could face a by-election if sitting MP Margaret Ferrier is ‘recalled’ by the local people.
Ferrier, elected on an SNP ticket, received a criminal conviction after travelling from London to Glasgow by train while infected with Covid.
Lennon said he was "not happy at all" about the selection process.
He said: "I was really quite shocked that the top three most popular candidates locally were all blocked.
"We haven't really been given any reasons why any of them were blocked. It seems quite profoundly undemocratic."
He added: "I've not spoken to a single person who's impressed. Everyone I've spoken to is upset.
"Local members pay their subs, deliver leaflets, go out door knocking. Out of the goodness of their heart, they donate their time to the party.
"To see them being disrespected like this is really quite shocking."
He also tweeted: "It is a complete farce that all three of the popular local candidates were blocked, without explanation.
"It is unfair to local members, it is unfair to the candidates and it is unfair to the shortlisted candidates who will not have the opportunity to be selected on merit."
The letter from the local parties claimed that members are concerned about the "integrity" of selections and said they "cannot continue campaigning until this matter is resolved". It also said there had been a "lack of involvement" of local members.
A Labour source who was at the meeting on Friday said that everyone there was "furious" and that they'd been told there was no way to appeal the decision.
The source said: "The meeting was literally unanimous. Everyone there was upset and furious.
"Everyone was upset that the three favoured candidates were blocked.
"Effectively we have been told our views are irrelevant, there is nothing we can do. There’s no way of appealing."
The source also said that postal votes had already been sent out. They said voters are to select one candidate, rather than using the usual method where they rank candidates in order of preference.
The source claimed that this meant the election was "rigged" in Shanks' favour.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Selection processes for Labour Party parliamentary candidates are properly administered in full accordance with procedures set by the Scottish Executive Committee.
“Scottish Labour is pleased to have a number of fantastic candidates on the shortlist who will be champions for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
