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Mixed results for left and right in Labour selections

SOCIALISTS in the Labour Party have made further advances in parliamentary selections over the weekend after having chalked up several major victories.

On Friday night, Sheffield left-wing councillor Sophie Wilson won the nomination to be the next candidate for the Yorkshire constituency of Rother Valley.

Meanwhile, other selections in Bassetlaw, Liverpool Wavertree, Nottingham East, Poplar and Limehouse all took place.

In Luciana Berger’s Merseyside constituency of Wavertree, Unison North West regional convenor and longstanding left-winger Paula Barker was selected.

The Morning Star understands that Ms Barker, whose supporters included Momentum, Unite, Unison, and the CWU, won 86 per cent of the membership vote, coming far ahead of her two right-wing opponents.

However, Labour rightwingers had some victories.

In Joan Ryan’s seat of Enfield North, Hackney councillor Feryal Clark — who is considered a “moderate” — beat GMB-backed Harrow councillor Dean Gilligan.

In Finchley and Golders Green, Momentum vice chairwoman Emina Ibrahim lost to local councillor Ross Houston, and former left-wing MP Katy Clark lost to right-wing London Assembly member Florence Eshalomi on the fourth round of voting in the Vauxhall constituency.

At the time of going to press, a source told the Morning Star that the Poplar and Limehouse selection — where a competitive race between Momentum-backed Apsana Begum and local councillor Amina Ali has raged over the past week — is “utter chaos,” as the booked venue is too small for the numbers of people.

In John Mann’s seat of Bassetlaw, anti-Brexit candidate and former Camden councillor Sally Gimson won the selection, with Unite-backed left-winger Keir Morrison losing out.

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