A London Labour politician has lashed out at his own party, accusing Labour bosses of a “stitch up” in picking candidates for the General Election.

Navin Shah, London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow said the party had “lost the plot” and was not being transparent about its selection process.

Mr Shah was vying to become the candidate for Labour safe seat Leicester East in the General Election.

 

UK Labour has perfected stitch up and lack of transparency to a fine art. Enough is enough.

 

Former Leicester East Labour MP Keith Vaz announced on Sunday that he would stand down from the seat after 32 years in Parliament.

Mr Vaz was facing the threat of suspension from Labour after revelations that he offered to buy cocaine for two male sex workers.

The former minister has said in a statement that he is receiving treatment for a serious mental health condition.

On Tuesday, Islington councillor Claudia Webbe – a member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee – was selected to fight the Leicester East seat in the General Election.

But fellow candidacy hopeful Mr Shah has launched an attack on his own party’s decision-making process.

Speaking on Twitter yesterday (Wednesday), he said: “Congratulations to Claudia Webbe on landing Leicester East seat.

"Having applied for the seat myself and from my past experiences, true to say UK Labour has perfected stitch up and lack of transparency to a fine art. Enough is enough.”

Mr Shah said he was not attacking Ms Webbe, and had only “best wishes” for her.

He said: “It’s the UK Labour that I find has lost the plot.

"They were meant to conduct interviews for selection but to date I’ve not even heard from them. This is discourteous to say the least.”

Ms Webbe, also responding on Twitter, thanked Mr Shah for his support.

She said: “Leicester is where I call home. It was where I was born and grew up. Leicester East is where my family still live.

“I am part of Leicester’s rich diversity. I will be proud to defeat the Tories and make a positive impact representing the good people of Leicester East.”

Mr Shah is the second applicant to attack the selection process for the constituency.

Sundip Meghani, a lead investigator for the Independent Office of Police Conduct, accused Labour of “obvious dodgy practices and nepotism” in its “sham contest” for the seat.

A spokesperson for the Labour party said: “Claudia Webbe is a BAME [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] woman who was born in and grew up in Leicester.

“Her knowledge of the constituency, her extensive experience as a councillor and as a campaigner for equality for all ethnic minority groups make her an excellent candidate.

“The panel that chose her as a candidate included regional and local constituency representatives.”

Mr Shah was the Labour candidate for Harrow East in the 2017 General Election – he lost to sitting Conservative MP Bob Blackman by less than 2,000 votes.

Mr Shah said he would release a full statement “in due course”. He has been contacted for further comment.