The Labour Party NEC Officers yesterday met to decide which seats where the Party has MPs standing down would be All Women Shortlists and which would be open.
The ten seats are expected to be highly sought after as they are all currently Labour held, some with majorities well over the 20,000 mark.
There was increased attention on the allocations late last week after Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis wrote to Jeremy Corbyn to raise concerns about the “trading” of All Women Shortlists to advantage “favourite sons”, urging the Labour Leader to intervene in the process.
LabourHub understands that Jeremy Corbyn did not join the NEC Officers call, but that Deputy Leader Tom Watson, who attracted attention from activists last week for his notable silence in response to Jeremy Corbyn’s proposal to break the Brexit deadlock, did call in and participate.
The full results of the allocations are:
Ashfield – AWS
Blyth Valley – AWS
City of Durham – AWS
Coventry North West – Open
Ealing North – Open
Erith & Thamesmead – AWS
Liverpool West Derby – Open
Poplar & Limehouse – AWS
Rother Valley – Open
Vauxhall – Open