Labour has been accused of a “stitch-up” over the selection of a candidate for a Liverpool Council by-election.
Ray Physick, chairman of the Fazakerley branch of the Labour Party, claims the national party has “rode roughshod” over its own rules after Helen Stephens was selected as the party’s candidate for next month’s city council by-election. The poll was called after former councillor Lindsay Melia stepped down from the position following the hotly contested March budget meeting of the local authority.
Ex-councillor Melia was one of a number of then-Labour members who broke party lines to vote against the budget set by the ruling group. This led to the formation of a breakaway independent group on Liverpool Council, led by former Lord Mayor and ex-Labour councillor, Anna Rothery, now known as Liverpool Community Independents.
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Mr Physick claimed that Ms Stephens, who had formerly stood as Labour’s candidate for Mossley Hill, was not eligible to be selected as the party’s representative having allegedly resigned weeks previously after failing to win selection for the Warbreck vacancy which was taken by new councillor Sam East. Mr Physick said had Ms Stephens resigned, she would not be able to stand under Labour Party rules which dictate any candidate must have 12 months continuous membership.
He said: "The candidate in question was showing up on the system as no longer being a member, having resigned a few weeks ago. But the party hierarchy was happy to run roughshod over the rules to get their person in. It was clearly a stitch-up."
Mr Physick told the ECHO that the selection meeting which culminated in Ms Stephens’ candidacy had become “quite heated” about the issue when members came together a week ago. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: “The selection process was run in line with our rules and procedures.”
Ms Stephens is one of two confirmed candidates for the June 30 poll. She will be joined on the ballot paper by Laura Wharton for the Liverpool Community Independents in a first electoral test of the political cut through for the new group.
The Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Liberal Party and Conservatives are yet to confirm if they will stand a representative for the ward. The area’s other two seats are currently held by Labour - Cllr Frazer Lake, cabinet member for social care and health, and Cllr Paul Brant, who was installed as assistant mayor and lead for finance last week, following the energy contract fiasco that has engulfed the local authority.
Prospective candidates must return their application papers to returning officer Tony Reeves at the Cunard Building, Water Street before the deadline of Wednesday June 1. The vote on June 30 is the third by-election to be held this year following polls in Warbreck and Everton wards.
