'Tony Blair faced more accusations of "control freakery" last night when activists claimed that Labour was preparing to parachute a cabinet aide into one of the party's safest seats at the election.
'The constituency of Leigh in Lancashire had its selection process suspended this week when it looked as though the local party would exclude Andy Burnham, a special adviser to Chris Smith, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport…
'Officials from the Labour North West regional party intervened when Leigh Constituency Labour Party's executive committee voted on Tuesday for a shortlist of just four candidates...
'However, Kevin Lees, a regional official, warned the constituency party that unless it backed a larger shortlist of six or eight, he would suspend the selection process.
'When the local members ignored his advice, Mr Lees formally suspended proceedings and ordered that the party's ruling National Executive Committee should draw up the shortlist instead.
'The sanction of imposing a shortlist is a tough measure, normally used when there are allegations of infighting or militancy in a local party.
'Local members are convinced that the reason Millbank wants a larger shortlist is to include Mr Burnham and Jenny Smith, a former aide to Bill Morris, the general secretary of the T&G union…
'An angry party member told the Independent: "This is jobs for the boys, and it's making a mockery of democracy. We've had our mines closed and the area desperately needs regeneration, and we need a local person to represent local people. The views of the local constituency are being overruled by a regional body about their choice of future Labour candidate. It stinks to high heaven."'
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