North-West Durham members accepted a female candidate will be forced on them (From The Northern Echo)

North-West Durham members accepted a female candidate will be forced on them

10:07am Tuesday 24th November 2009

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A LABOUR constituency chairman is refusing to campaign for the party as he launches a blistering attack on its controversial all-women shortlist rule.

North-West Durham members accepted a female candidate will be forced on them on Friday after weeks of bitter feuding with their National Executive Committee (NEC).

Chiefs are introducing women-only shortlists in all the party’s winnable seats in an attempt to balance the gender ratio in the House of Commons.

Yesterday, constituency chairman Joe Armstrong said the rule was only voted for in North-West Durham because the NEC “held a gun to their head”.

“There is a rumour going round that women can’t fight their corner,” he said. “There is not one woman here who wants an all-women shortlist – it is demeaning, it is degrading and it is unnecessary.”

In protest, he has stopped donating, will not campaign for the new candidate and plans to step down as chairman in June.

He called for the NEC members who “don’t listen to the rank and file” to be deselected and says 150 constituency members oppose the rule.

“I will not be part of the selection process,” he said.

“I will not canvass, leaflet drop or fundraise unless those on the NEC who voted for this get into North-West Durham and start campaigning.

“The only campaign I will be taking on is to deselect those NEC members that don’t listen and who carry on with this silly dogma which is well passed its sell-by date, and I don’t think I will be alone in this.

“Will Wandsbeck have an all-women shortlist? Will North Tyneside have an allwomen shortlist? We look forward to hearing the answer.”

He said it was now vital the constituency focused on finding a new Labour candidate to represent constituents, but added: “We will continue to fight within the party to improve its rules on positive discrimination.”

MP Hilary Armstrong announced she would step down before the next General Election after 22 years in post.

Held by Labour since 1950, her seat is considered safe.

North-East regional officer for Unison, Liz Twist, from Newcastle, and Anna Turley, a former advisor to MP Hilary Armstrong, and Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett are expected to put their names forward.

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