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Blackburn Asian women councillors deselected by local Labour party | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Blackburn's first two Asian women councillors have been deselected for speaking out against old-fashioned attitudes, it has been claimed. | Blackburn's first two Asian women councillors have been deselected for speaking out against old-fashioned attitudes, it has been claimed. |
Saima Afzal and Maryam Batan are understood to have alleged the selection process on 7 February was unfair and broke Labour party rules. | |
Sources say they were replaced with Asian women who would be less independent minded and toe the line. | |
In an unusual move, Labour will re-run the selection process on Friday. | |
Ms Afzal and Ms Batan were seen as trailblazers when they were elected in May 2018. | Ms Afzal and Ms Batan were seen as trailblazers when they were elected in May 2018. |
Earlier this month they stood for re-selection by the Blackburn Labour party but two other Asian women were chosen to replace them in the local elections in May. | Earlier this month they stood for re-selection by the Blackburn Labour party but two other Asian women were chosen to replace them in the local elections in May. |
'Sour grapes' | 'Sour grapes' |
It is understood Ms Afzal and Ms Batan complained when they were deselected, claiming party rules were broken to force them out. | It is understood Ms Afzal and Ms Batan complained when they were deselected, claiming party rules were broken to force them out. |
Supporters of the two councillors claim the two new candidates were not eligible to be selected as they have been members for less than a year and were handpicked to toe the line. | |
Councillor Zamir Khan, who ran the selection, described their reaction as "sour grapes". | Councillor Zamir Khan, who ran the selection, described their reaction as "sour grapes". |
A spokesperson for the NW Labour party said the selection process would be re-run on Friday as "procedures were not followed". | A spokesperson for the NW Labour party said the selection process would be re-run on Friday as "procedures were not followed". |
Supporters of the two councillors believe they have been victims of misogyny by a group of older Asian men within the Blackburn Labour party because the two women were independent-minded and willing to speak out against old-fashioned attitudes. | Supporters of the two councillors believe they have been victims of misogyny by a group of older Asian men within the Blackburn Labour party because the two women were independent-minded and willing to speak out against old-fashioned attitudes. |
The regional Labour party would not comment on allegations of sexism and council leader Mohammed Khan declined to comment. | The regional Labour party would not comment on allegations of sexism and council leader Mohammed Khan declined to comment. |