Labour MP calls new seat selection method undemocratic

An MP has accused Welsh Labour's ruling body of imposing an "undemocratic" selection process for a new seat.

Beth Winter of Cynon Valley said she has "serious concerns" about the online process to select the candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.

Party members must pick between her and frontbencher Merthyr Tydfil's Gerald Jones - both their seats are set to scrapped under boundary changes.

Welsh Labour said members would be sent details on the process shortly.

A special meeting to approve the selection process was held by Labour's Welsh Executive Committee (WEC) on Saturday - with party officials proposing a 14 day contest period and online voting only.

BBC Wales was told by four members of WEC that First Minister Mark Drakeford, who sits on the Committee, voiced support for a longer contest and in-person hustings.

The committee eventually settled on a 16 day contest period but, since Saturday, that timetable has since been extended to 22 days.

Ms Winter, part of a socialist campaign group of MPs, expressed concern too much of the contest was online.

She said: "There will be no branch nominations, no affiliate nominations, no in-person hustings to attend, meet candidates and vote at, and the process must be completed within such a short amount of time.

"The party's online voting tool has faced criticism for a lack of transparency in selections elsewhere, so I expect an independent online ballot provider to be used."

On social media she said she had "serious concerns" about the "legitimacy and fairness" of the process.

She said: "I will be fighting to win Labour's selection for the new Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon seat and expect to be the party's candidate at the general election.

"But I regret that the Welsh Labour executive has restricted the rights of party members."

Under the UK government's boundary proposals the number of MPs in Wales would fall by eight from 40 to 32.

Plans to redraw parliamentary boundaries date back to when David Cameron was prime minister.

In November 2020, Ms Winter was one of 18 Labour MPs who signed a letter calling for Jeremy Corbyn to be reinstated to the Labour Party.

A member of the WEC said Mark Drakeford spoke in favour of a 28 day contest rather than 14, with in-person hustings rather than online, but did not gain the required support.

"We wanted amendments to the proposal that selection should be done quickly and online only," the member said.

"We wanted a 28 day process with in-person hustings with the option for a postal ballot for all members, whereas the paper, as it was, only offered online ballot. Mark Drakeford spoke in favour of those amendments.

"But the vote was tied, so under the rules, the status quo prevailed."

As well as extending the timetable to 22 days, a Welsh Labour spokesperson has confirmed to BBC Wales that all eligible voters will be able to vote by post or online.

A different member of the WEC, appearing to refer to Gerald Jones, said: "Without casting any aspersions, it's in the interests of the incumbent in a majority constituency to keep it short.

"And there's evidence that a shorter time and online ballot only benefit the right of the party."

"Overall it's been an extremely rushed process and in my view there's no massive urgency to do this.

"I don't see there's going to be a general election this year and realistically what was being asked for was reasonably and proportionate."

Another WEC member told BBC Wales: "We are meant to be member led yet staff claim this is for the best.

"Pretty sure that online voting for a critical role as MP diminishes the voice of members and is not a system that should be foisted onto members."

They also said the issue had highlighted divisions within Welsh Labour.

"The party is splitting in terms of left and right and it's a pick-a-side situation.

"It's become left versus right where it shouldn't be."

Welsh Labour said: "The Welsh executive committee [on Saturday] met and agreed the process for selecting candidates in contested seats.

"All members in the new constituency will shortly receive details on how to take part and how to vote."

Gerald Jones MP, posting online, said he was "pleased the Welsh Labour Executive Committee has now decided to move forward with the selection process for the new Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon constituency, and that all Welsh Labour members in the new constituency will be able to vote for their candidate."