Welsh Labour: Frontbench MP beats left-winger in seat battle

A left-wing Labour politician has accused her party of running an unfair selection after she lost a contest to be the candidate for a new seat.

Fellow MP Gerald Jones defeated Beth Winter in the selection for the new constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.

Ms Winter said the process, which had no in-person hustings, was "unjust" and accused the party of placing "unacceptable obstacles" in her way.

Welsh Labour defended the process.

The two constituencies Ms Winter and Mr Jones currently represent - Cynon Valley, and Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney - are due to be scrapped under UK boundary changes.

Gerald Jones is a frontbencher in Keir Starmer's Labour party, as shadow Wales Office minister.

Meanwhile Beth Winter is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing Labour MPs, and had been a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.

In her statement, Ms Winter said she sought reselection "as Labour's candidate on a platform of solidarity with striking rail workers, nurses, and teaching staff, all of who I have been proud to stand with on the picket line".

"However, unacceptable obstacles were placed in the way of this grassroots campaign, undermining the democratic process," she said.

"The online-only process was bulldozed through in just two weeks, with no face-to-face hustings.

"This was not a fair contest, and I will be taking advice and soundings in the days ahead about my next steps."

Mr Jones said: "I'm incredibly grateful that Labour members have chosen me to be their candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.

"This contest was only needed due to Tory changes to parliamentary boundaries and it's regrettable that members were forced to choose between myself and Beth Winter.

"That so many members took part in the selection process, is a sign of active political engagement."

BBC Wales reported last month that First Minister Mark Drakeford had voiced support at the party's Welsh executive for a longer contest with in-person hustings.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: "Congratulations to Gerald Jones on his selection today.

"Thanks to him, fellow candidate Beth Winter and all members across the new constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon for taking part in the selection process. "It is regrettable that the boundary review meant two sitting Welsh Labour MPs have been forced to stand against one another.

"The selection procedure was designed to give all members across the new seat a chance to take part in selecting their candidate and as a result we saw a very high turnout."

A Labour source said that the selection process had been over three weeks "from start to finish", there had been a "very high" turnout of voters and all party members had been written to.

Members unable to vote online were given the chance to cast a proxy postal vote, the source added.