This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-28156857
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cynon Valley Labour all-women shortlist row escalates | Cynon Valley Labour all-women shortlist row escalates |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A row over an enforced all-women shortlist in the Labour seat being vacated by MP Ann Clwyd has escalated. | A row over an enforced all-women shortlist in the Labour seat being vacated by MP Ann Clwyd has escalated. |
| The Labour Party decided the candidate to replace Ms Clwyd when she retires at the next general election would be chosen from a list of women. | The Labour Party decided the candidate to replace Ms Clwyd when she retires at the next general election would be chosen from a list of women. |
| But the local party in Cynon Valley has now insisted it will not select a candidate using this method. | But the local party in Cynon Valley has now insisted it will not select a candidate using this method. |
| Welsh Labour says the party will not be backing down and it could run the selection process. | |
| The decision to impose an all-women shortlist on the Cynon Valley branch was taken after Ms Clwyd announced she planned to stand down as an MP at next year's election. | The decision to impose an all-women shortlist on the Cynon Valley branch was taken after Ms Clwyd announced she planned to stand down as an MP at next year's election. |
| Only 13 women have ever been MPs in Wales, an issue many senior people in the party want to address. | Only 13 women have ever been MPs in Wales, an issue many senior people in the party want to address. |
| Cardiff North AM and former MP Julie Morgan has said the shortlists should be considered by Labour for every Westminster seat that comes up in Wales. | Cardiff North AM and former MP Julie Morgan has said the shortlists should be considered by Labour for every Westminster seat that comes up in Wales. |
| But while an all-women shortlist is being used by Labour in Cynon Valley, in Aberavon the party has chosen Stephen Kinnock, son of the former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, to stand as its candidate as Hywel Francis stands down. | But while an all-women shortlist is being used by Labour in Cynon Valley, in Aberavon the party has chosen Stephen Kinnock, son of the former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, to stand as its candidate as Hywel Francis stands down. |
| Local constituency officials in Cynon Valley said they would like the best candidate regardless of gender. | Local constituency officials in Cynon Valley said they would like the best candidate regardless of gender. |
| Constituency secretary Alun Williams said: "We feel that we have been badly let down. Our concerns have not been addressed. | Constituency secretary Alun Williams said: "We feel that we have been badly let down. Our concerns have not been addressed. |
| "The consultation process was a sham and there has been no reasonable explanation given for the decision to give an open selection to Aberavon while imposing an all-women shortlist on Cynon Valley. | "The consultation process was a sham and there has been no reasonable explanation given for the decision to give an open selection to Aberavon while imposing an all-women shortlist on Cynon Valley. |
| "While the party is talking about politics from the grassroots up they are ignoring the genuine concerns of their members in Cynon Valley. | "While the party is talking about politics from the grassroots up they are ignoring the genuine concerns of their members in Cynon Valley. |
| "We have therefore decided to 'go on strike'. We will not provide a procedures secretary, a selection committee or arrange the hustings meetings or correspondence to members for an all-women shortlist selection. We are still deeply disturbed at the failure to respond to our concerns." | "We have therefore decided to 'go on strike'. We will not provide a procedures secretary, a selection committee or arrange the hustings meetings or correspondence to members for an all-women shortlist selection. We are still deeply disturbed at the failure to respond to our concerns." |
| Spoken out | Spoken out |
| The Labour Party has confirmed in a letter to the constituency party that its decision to impose an all-women shortlist would not change. | The Labour Party has confirmed in a letter to the constituency party that its decision to impose an all-women shortlist would not change. |
| Labour's decisions on which constituencies adopt the shortlists are made by its National Executive Committee (NEC), the governing body of the party as a whole. | |
| The shortlists are Labour Party policy and First Minister Carwyn Jones has spoken out in support of the decision in Cynon Valley. | The shortlists are Labour Party policy and First Minister Carwyn Jones has spoken out in support of the decision in Cynon Valley. |
| Ms Clwyd has said she did not want to influence the process but added it was "up to the people in the party locally to make their own decision on it". | Ms Clwyd has said she did not want to influence the process but added it was "up to the people in the party locally to make their own decision on it". |
| A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "We make absolutely no apology for seeking to increase the number of women in parliament or for all-women shortlists. | |
| "The selection in Cynon Valley will be from an all-women shortlist, as decided by Labour's NEC. | |
| "In the absence of a procedural secretary and selection committee, Welsh Labour will administer the selection process on behalf of the NEC, in which local members will select a candidate on a one-member-one-vote basis." |