LABOUR was condemned today for barring three women — including the black, socialist frontrunner — from the party’s contest to become the candidate for the Liverpool mayoral race.

An email sent to party members by Labour North West says that Labour has “determined that applications for the position should be reopened in order to allow the Liverpool Labour membership to choose from an alternative shortlist of candidates.” 

Labour did not inform the candidates — frontrunner Anna Rothery, Wendy Simon, and Ann O’Byrne — of the move before the email was sent out.