Euro carve-up dumps left

Labour's new selection procedures for candidates for next year's elections to the European Parliament have resulted in wholesale exclusion for the left - and many more. Mike Phipps reports.

Unelected selection panels have launched a cull of sitting left MEPs. Along with some other sitting Euro-candidates, the left-leaning MEPs have now no chance of being re-elected to the European Parliament - despite most being endorsed by the overwhelming majority of their local Party members. Under new rules, New Labour selection panels have ended these MEPs' parliamentary careers, even though many have received the endorsement of over 90% of members voting in consultation exercises.

Of the 32 Labour MEPs who called for the retention of Clause IV of the Party constitution four years ago, only seven are likely to survive. Under the new rules, local members were asked to nominate suitable candidates for new regional lists. While other parties are selecting by one member one vote ballots, New Labour set up leadership-nominated panels to interview candidates and place them in order on regional slates. Many incumbent MEPs were placed so far down the list they stand no chance of re-election. Some left MEPs stood down, rather than be axed. Campaign Group supporter Alex Smith withdrew rather than run in an unwinnable position on the Scottish region slate.

On the other hand, newly elected NEC member Michael Cashman, from the Blairite Members First Group, is just one of those to benefit from the new selection procedure. Despite bitter local opposition and little previous connection with the West Midlands, he was positioned in second place for the area. Labour bosses defended his record in the region, however, saying he acted in The Rocky Horror Show at Birmingham Rep earlier this year!

Strangely, none of the several Internet sites devoted to publicising Cashman mention his West Midlands links. Sitting West Midlands MEP Christine Oddy, who was placed in an unwinnable seventh position out of eight candidates, described the selection panel as a "humiliating charade". She claimed the decision to dump her had already been taken before her interview. Oddy's support for Clause IV and commitment to Central American solidarity work may account for her treatment.

The election procedure has shown other horrors and local opposition. In London Central, the two candidates nominated were not even listed at all - showing contempt for consultation. Also carved out are Mike Hendrick, Labour's only sitting black MEP, David Morris, Chair of Wales CND and West London MEP Michael Elliott, placed tenth on a slate of ten. European Women's Rights spokesperson Sue Waddington is placed in an unwinnable position in the East Midlands and Hugh McMahon, who received the biggest personal endorsement from members, has also been forced out in Scotland. Another casualty is Carol Tongue, placed halfway down the list in London, despite her longstanding loyalty to the leadership. But her principled opposition to concentration of ownership in the media, and therefore Rupert Murdoch, may have led to her falling foul of Millbank.

Gordon Adam in the North East, Barry Seal and Veronica Hardstaff in Yorkshire, David Hallam in the East Midlands, Peter Truscott and David Thomas (Eastern region), Sean Spiers (London), Anita Pollock (South East) and Joe Wilson (Wales) are others who are unlikely to survive. This is in addition to those on the left who are standing down, such as Alf Lomas, Stan Newens, Michael Hindley and Eddie Newman, the latter well before retirement age.

There is little enthusiasm among the membership for these new procedures. Participation among the membership in London Central was 14%, down two-thirds from last time. And one side-effect of regional rather than constituency MEPS will be a likely cutback in MEPs' support staff with resources being diverted away from individuals towards the Party, thus reducing the service to constituents.

Two lessons emerge from this. Firstly no electoral system that gives the Party control over the selection of candidates can be trusted by grassroots members. Secondly, this extension of patronage and control makes it all the more essential that London members have the final say in a democratic ballot on who should be Labour's candidate for the new mayor.

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