A CRUNCH meeting could see axed Labour councillors re-selected as candidates against the wishes of local party members, the Guardian has learned.

The process by which party members choose candidates at the next election was suspended last summer by regional party bigwigs after six sitting councillors were ditched by local activists.

The councillors refused to go quietly and registered a complaint about the process, prompting the regional party to intervene.

The exact nature of the complaint remains unclear, but there were accusations of racial bias as three of the councillors were prominent black members, including Waltham Forest mayor Anna Mbachu.

One of the de-selected councillors, Milton Martin, immediately defected to the Liberal Democrats and the Guardian understands that a number of his de-selected colleagues considered doing the same.

This may have handed control of the authority to the Liberal Democrats, a move which could have spelled election disaster for Labour.

Concerned regional bosses moved swiftly to suspend the selection process and, according to a local Labour Party source, a crunch meeting on Saturday could see the sitting councillors re-instated as candidates – against the wishes of local members.

The meeting, at the Epicentre in Leytonstone on Saturday, will see the de-selected candidates, Cllrs Shameem Highfield, Faiz Yunis, Elisabeth Davies and Anna Mbachu, interviewed along with other candidates.

The Guardian understands that the local party will play no part in the decision and a source said it is predicted the regional party will re-instate the deselected councillors.

A local party member, who does not wish to be identified, said: “Party members and supporters are angered that their democratic rights have been overruled by the London Labour Party.

“The fact remains that if party members were allowed some democracy then the matter would not have reached such a stage.”

It is understood local party members are angry that the de-selected councillors made “threats” to join the Lib Dems.

Cllr John Macklin, Lib Dem group leader, said last summer that Cllrs Highfield and Younis even notified council chief executive Andrew Kilburn of their intention to cross the floor, but did not follow it through.

Cllr Macklin added: "It seems like the party is in disarray.

"I think it is an unhappy time for all involved and it is a cause for concern.

"Why can't the local Labour party be trusted to select their own councillors?"

The reason for the de-selections has never been made public, but a Labour insider has said there may have been concern at the sitting councillors' association with former council leader Clyde Loakes.

The sixth deselected councillor, Tarsem Bhogal, is not intending to seek re-selection.

Labour Party members in the Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency are also on a collision course with party bosses over a plan to parachute in Jack Dromey to the seat.

Harry Cohen is stepping down at the next election over the expenses scandal.

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter