Member of Labour's governing body 'blocked' from standing at next election

18 July 2023 , 17:09

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Mish Rahman was seeking to be Labour's candidate for Wolverhampton West

A left-wing member of Labour's ruling body has been "blocked" from standing as a candidate for the party at the next general election.

Mish Rahman, who sits on the National Executive Committee (NEC), revealed the decision in a statement on Tuesday, saying it should be of "serious concern".

He was seeking to stand as the candidate in Wolverhampton West - a marginal constituency the Tories won from Labour in 2019 with a slim majority of 1,661 votes.

It will be a key seat for Keir Starmer to win back at the next general election.

But in a statement on Friday, Mr Rahman said: “I have been informed by the Labour Party that I have not made the longlist in the Wolverhampton West Parliamentary selection, despite gaining strong local support and the backing of seven trade unions and affiliates."

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"This is not a shock – it is what I and my team expected. None of my fellow Bernie Grant Leadership Programme alumni have been selected." The programme is aimed at upskilling potential Black leaders with all the skills they will need to succeed as a Labour Party leader.

Mr Rahman said he was blocked "for how I voted on the NEC in relation to the composition of party disciplinary structures" following the 2020 Equalities and Human Rights Commission report that found Labour breached equalities law.

He added: "Being blocked for casting a vote in a democratic process should be a serious concern for all of us in the Labour Party. I was honoured to win so much support from our Labour family in this selection."

A Labour spokeswoman said: "Thanks to Keir's leadership, the Labour Party has put in place robust due diligence processes so that candidates are of the highest calibre.

"The public have a right to know that everyone we put forward at election time is of the highest standard.”

Backed by the left-wing Momentum campaign, Mr Rahman was first elected to the party's ruling body in 2020 and has served almost continuously since then.

He voted against Mr Starmer's move earlier this year to block Mr Corbyn from standing for Labour in Islington North at the next general election.

Mr Rahman said at the time: "I believe in a broad church Labour Party where members should choose their candidates.

"Now is not the time for the party to turn inwards, this [government] is on the ropes. We need to address the real world concerns of voters".

A spokesman for the left-wing Momentum group said: "The vital signs of Labour Party democracy are flashing red. It is simply indefensible that a member of Labour's own executive can be blocked from standing for selection for a free vote on the NEC despite previously being entrusted with overseeing MP selections elsewhere."

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Ashley Cowburn