Wakefield Labour committee resigns en masse over by-election selection process row

‘We asked for local candidates, but there are none,’ local party says

The Wakefield by-election is a crucial test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership (EPA)

The executive committee of Wakefield’s local Labour Party has resigned en masse in protest over the national party’s handling of the selection of a candidate in a forthcoming by-election.

In a major bust-up with Labour HQ, the 16-strong body hit out at the lack of a “local candidate” on the shortlist and decided to quit their positions during a meeting on Thursday evening.

They also accused the party of failing to abide by the rules, by only allowing one local party member – rather than three – on a panel to draw up a candidate shortlist to go before members.