THREE axed Labour councillors have been chosen as election candidates against the wishes of local party members.

The process of selecting candidates for 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.

An investigation found that some of the members who supported alternative candidates were not on the electoral role, breaching party rules.

One of the ditched 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 on Saturday a crunch meeting saw Cllrs Mbachu, Elisabeth Davies and Shameem Highfield chosen as candidates.

The Guardian understands the local party played no part in the decision and members are angry that the regional party took over the process.

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.”

Cllr Faiz Yunis' de-selection was not contested, while Cllr Tarsem Bhogal does not intend to contest the next election.

A Labour candidate has yet to be selected for the Leyton & Wanstead parliamentary seat just months away from a general election.

There is speculation that minister Harriet Harmen’s husband Jack Dromey, who is also Labour Party treasurer, might be parachuted in - against the wishes of local party activists.

The Labour party confirmed this week that the party's shortlist would be open to male candidates, unlike the process which saw Stella Creasy selected as the candidate for Walthamstow.

Nobody from the regional party was available for comment.

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