THE FOREST of Dean Labour Party have become embroiled in a row concerning their decision to back an all woman shortlist to select their candidate to fight Conservative MP Mark Harper at the next General Election.

A General Election may come sooner than expected with it being one of the options during the on-going Brexit problems faced by Central Government.

So parties are beginning to draw their lines and select candidates - just in case.

Mr Shaun Stammers stood for Labour in the 2017 Election and, while he was defeated by Mr Harper, polling just under ten thousand votes fewer than the Conservative, he gained a 11.3 per cent increase on the 2015 vote.

Yet, Mr Stammers has been dropped by the party as they go along the line of an all woman shortlist, which has been used on several occasions in various seats by Labour.

And Mr Stammers, speaking on his Forest Matters Facebook page, has blasted the decision, although, in comments on the post, he admits to voting for it – and actually having the casting vote to implement the shortlist.

He said on his post: “It is with great sadness and disappointment that I must acknowledge I will not be the Labour Party Candidate at the next General Election.

“The National Party, as recommended by the Local Party, has imposed a women only short list. It was a honour to represent Labour in the FoD in 2017 and I wish my successor, whomever she may be, the very best of luck in toppling Mark Harper.

“To step up last time was a daunting task but one I am proud to have undertaken. I am only saddened that I will not have the opportunity to seek the support of Labour members in an open and honest selection process this time around.”

Comments agreed and disagreed with the decision, with poster Andrew Phelps believing: “Labour in the Forest have just lost all chance of unseating Mark Harper.”

Another poster, Debbie Barton, added: “I am disgusted on so many levels. My gob is literally smacked.”

But Mr Stammers, in reply to a post from Joanna Trotman on the thread, admitted he voted for all women shortlist idea in the past and that, having worked to get parity between male and female Labour MPs all his political life, he could not go against his principles when such a vote arrived at his own doorstep.

Indeed, teenage Labour activist Zac Arnold said he sat next to Mr Stammers at a meeting when the shortlist was adopted – and Mr Stammers had the casting vote!

Mr Stammers said: “The policy does have good intentions and that’s why I have supported it in the past. Over 20 years ago in a previous life in Student politics I campaigned for it and promised the women in my Union that I always would until we get 50:50 male:female Lab MPs.

“I couldn’t abandon that promise the first time I’m asked to vote on it even if it was to my own detriment. I feel very naive now believing that enough members had voiced their opposition and that the CLP would reflect position. In retrospect I should have abstained but hindsight is a powerful thing.”

Cllr. Bernie O’Neill, Chair of the Forest of Dean Constituency Labour Party, thanked Mr Stammers for his effort at the 2017 election but added: “We will be selecting a woman as our next General Election Candidate following a consultation exercise involving all four branches in the district and a decision by the party’s National Executive Committee.

“I am sure that she will have the full support and help from the members of the Labour Party in the Constituency in what is sure to be a tough campaign, whenever it comes.

“The Party would like to thank Shaun Stammers, our Candidate at the last Election, for all his efforts in challenging Mark Harper, and increasing the Labour vote in the Forest.”