West Midlands Metro Mayor: Labour's anger over 'North Korean-style' Tory candidate selection
The Conservative Party has accused Labour of playing 'political games' after questions were raised over how the Tories selected their candidate for West Midlands mayor.
John Lewis boss Andy Street was picked as the Tory candidate for mayor following a vote of party members.
But Labour has accused the party of a lack of transparency, claiming that Mr Street 'was on a shortlist of one'.
Lord Snape, Labour's former West Bromwich East MP, has written to Conservative Party Chairman Patrick McLoughlin citing 'serious concerns' over the selection process.
In the letter he describes Mr Street as 'no more than an imposed candidate'.
"This so-called selection appears to be nothing more than a fait accompli," he adds.
"It goes to show that the Conservative Party is still an organisation where big decisions are made by shadowy figures in smoke-filled rooms, with no transparent due process.
"This culture of totalitarianism in the Conservative Party is counter to the values of democracy and decency that people in the West Midlands expect and it certainly isn't the way that any potential Mayor should be running the Combined Authority.
"Your North Korean-style of internal party selections is an affront to modern political discourse and falls well below the standards that people in the West Midlands expect.
"By comparison – Labour had an open application process where five high-quality candidates were long-listed, before a short-listing and then a member's postal ballot across all seven metropolitan boroughs."
West Midlands MEP Sion Simon was elected as Labour's candidate for mayor. He gained 71.2 per cent of votes in a ballot where 3,817 members took part.
Lord Snape has called on Mr McLoughlin to publish details of the process the Tories' candidate selection.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "Andy Street was selected as Conservative Party candidate for West Midlands mayor in accordance with party rules at a meeting of party members.
"This stunt by Labour shows once again how Jeremy Corbyn's mayoral candidate is only interested in political games rather than delivering on jobs, transport and skills for the people of the West Midlands."
