Labour MP Beth Winter today blasted the Party after losing out by an extremely narrow margin in a controversial selection battle, caused by the boundary review. Winter, a socialist firebrand who has been an outspoken advocate for public ownership, wealth taxes and solidarity with striking workers, lost out to neighbouring MP Gerald Jones, Shadow Minister and Starmer loyalist, in a contest fraught with allegations of irregularities.

Winter, the MP for Cynon Valley since 2019, had faced off against Jones, MP for neighbouring Merthyr Tydfil and Starmer’s Shadow Wales Minister in a contest for the new, merged constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon, brought about by the boundary review. Winter has today said “this was not a fair contest” and that she will “consider next steps” .

However, Winter spoke out prior to the start of the contest with a series of serious concerns about the process, which Momentum argues were adopted in order to favour Jones. These irregularities include:

– Using the Anonyvoter system as the default voting mechanism. Anonyvoter is totally opaque, with the Party routinely denying the guarantee of independent scrutiny of the voting, and which was fundamental in the questionable process leading to the deselection of Sam Tarry. 

– No in-person hustings, preventing members from being able to fully engage with the candidates.

– A rapid-fire timeline, despite the need for a contest having been clear for months.

There is a widespread feeling that these procedures were forced through to favour the establishment candidate.

This latest controversy comes amid mounting disquiet over the exclusion of sitting Mayor of North Tyne Jamie Driscoll from the Labour shortlist for the new North East Mayor position, analysed on Labour Hub here. There has also been long-running controversy over a concerted purge of socialists from Labour’s Parliamentary selections.

After the outcome of the selection of the Party’s Parliamentary Candidate to fight the next General Election in the newly created seat of Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon, Beth Winter said:

“I’m disappointed by this result and by the unjust manner in which it came about, which leaves major questions outstanding.

“In this contest, I sought reselection as Labour’s candidate on a platform of solidarity with striking rail workers, nurses, and teaching staff, all of who I have been proud to stand with on the picket line.

“I have campaigned for properly-funded public services paid for by taxing the rich, an extension of workers’ rights including a £15 per hour living wage, the renationalisation of our public services and a ‘green new deal’ to deliver a jobs-led economic recovery.

“However, unacceptable obstacles were placed in the way of this grassroots campaign, undermining the democratic process.

“The online-only process was bulldozed through in just two weeks, with no face-to-face hustings.

“This was not a fair contest, and I will be taking advice and soundings in the days ahead about my next steps.

“In the meantime, I want to thank each and every member of my campaign team, as well as all Labour Party members in Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon who participated in this contest.

To my Cynon Valley constituents I remain your MP and will be until the General Election. I will continue to work alongside you for positive change for our valley.

“The fight for a Labour Party victory in Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon, and the return of a Labour government at the next General Election remains my priority. Solidarity.”

A Momentum spokesperson said: “Once again a Labour Party selection is shrouded in controversy. Whether it’s Jamie Driscoll in the North East or Beth Winter in Cynon Valley, the Labour leadership is taking a sledgehammer to the democratic rights of local Labour members in order to purge socialists and instal loyalists. Sadly, we have witnessed more irregularities in this selection contest.

“Keir Starmer once said he wanted to empower local Party members to decide their candidates. He has made devolution a cornerstone of Labour’s programme. The reality is that if you’re a Labour representative who stands with working people on picket lines, the Labour Leadership will do their utmost to prevent you from getting a fair hearing and to deny local members a fair choice.”

Image: Beth Winter MP. Source: https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/4809/Portrait?cropType=ThreeFour. Author: David Woolfall, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.