Corbyn accused of ‘stitch-up’ after MP quits safe seat

LABOUR activists have accused Jeremy Corbyn of a “stitch up” after the party’s central office took control of selecting the list of candidates to replace Heidi Alexander.

Ms Alexander quit as the MP for Lewisham East earlier this week to take a job as deputy mayor for transport at London City Hall. But rather than let local Labour members draw up the shortlist, the process will be undertaken by members of the party’s ruling national executive committee, which includes the party leader.

That has prompted suspicions that the decision-makers will try to ensure a Left-wing candidate is selected.

Richard Angell, from the centre-left Progress campaign group, told the Politics Home website: “It is a total stitchup: treating one of the safest seats in the country like it is the swing marginal Copeland. Pathetic really.”