A veteran Labour councillor who runs a food bank in the city has been blocked from standing at next year's elections by the party.
Cllr Gerard Woodhouse has represented the County ward in the north of the city since 2010. He is well known around the city for running the L6 Community Centre in Everton, which operates a food bank, a baby bank and other services to support some of the most deprived communities in the city and country.
The long-serving councillor, who has been a member of the Labour Party for more than four decades, has now been told that he will not be allowed to stand for the party in next May's local elections. This would most likely see him depart the local authority after 12 years.
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Labour have been carrying out interviews with prospective candidates ahead of the all-out local elections in May, when all the city's council seats will be up for grabs. The elections will be contested with a redrawn map of the city.
An email, seen by the ECHO, sent by Labour's regional director, told Cllr Woodhouse that following his own interview, he will no longer be on the panel of candidates and is ineligible to stand in the local elections in May. The decision appears to be based on a lack of campaigning or Labour activities by the councillor.
Cllr Woodhouse says he has been suffering with serious mental health issues and tried to make this clear to the party. He said: "It's just unbelievable, I have had major mental health issues and I was in hospital for two weeks. It just feels like they have got no compassion."
The Labour email said: "They (interview panel) accepted that you have not been well, but said that you did not evidence any attempt to request alternative days or activities since your return back to council duties."
Speaking to the ECHO, Cllr Woodhouse said: "They know I can't do campaigning on a Saturday because I run a food bank. No other councillor does what I do. I think I am doing a better job in feeding people who need it - my priority is the food bank but every day I am out in my ward."
Cllr Woodhouse, who insists he has sent a doctor's note to the party, added: "If they can't show compassion for one of their own councillors I don't know what hope there is for anyone else."
Labour is preparing itself for what could be a tough round of elections in May. The party is still reeling from the damning revelations of last year's government inspection of the council. That inspection led to a host of changes in how the council is run - including elections.
In May, the council will move to the first round of all out elections, where every seat will be voted for. A new map will see 85 councillors elected across 64 wards, rather than the current system of 90 councillors elected across thirty wards.
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