GRASSROOTS activists slammed Labour Party apparatchiks for factionalism today in the selection process for the Caerphilly Senedd by-election.

The party has selected Caerphilly-based Richard Tunnicliffe as its candidate to retain the seat from a resurgent Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

But today it emerged that deputy Caerphilly council leader Jamie Pritchard had been blocked from the selection process because of historical tweets in support of Jeremy Corbyn.

Welsh Labour Grassroots co-chairman Dylan Lewis-Rowlands said: “A time which required unity became a time for factionalism and fighting.

“They have placed their factional and self-obsessed views before the good of Wales, even in the tragic circumstances of selecting a candidate after Hefin David’s death.

“One candidate was on the list even though the rules forbade it, another was reportedly disqualified for supporting a former leader of the party, and the eventual candidate who won did so with six votes out of 36, with a majority of the ballots spoiled.”

The Welsh Labour conference has agreed to devolve the party’s rulebook to Wales, allowing the Welsh executive committee to administer it.

Mr Lewis-Rowlands said: “We’ve been clear time and time again — it should be for members in Wales to decide their candidates, not the suits in London.

“It is high time we devolve the rulebook, become the Welsh Labour Party, and leave the sinking Starmer ship behind.

“Reform UK is barking at our heels, and rather than offer a principled stance, Starmer and co have just adopted their racist and divisive rhetoric.

“UK Labour can’t defeat Reform Ltd, but Welsh Labour could.”