Wakefield Labour chiefs walk out of final vote on byelection candidate

Local party's executive walks out en masse over candidate choice, which it says is stitch-up by party HQ

Wakefield's Labour party executive has walked out of the final selection meeting for the party's byelection, in protest at the candidate choice, which members termed a stitch-up by Labour HQ.

In a rebellion by activists that could harm the party's chances of taking the crucial West Yorkshire seat, the local party's executive walked out en masse ahead of the vote on the final two shortlisted candidates. The vote was won by Simon Lightwood, a former staffer for the ex-Labour MP Mary Creagh.