THE LABOUR Party is facing an angry backlash in Bradford after its ruling executive took control over the selection of candidates in six Bradford Council wards.

There were calls last night for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to step in to resolve a bitter row in Bradford West involving rank-and-file members, councillors and the sitting Labour MP Naz Shah.

As reported yesterday, the Party has ruled that a panel of the National Executive Committee will select candidates in six wards that make up Bradford West ahead of this May's local elections.

The Party said it had taken action after receiving "allegations surrounding the process of selecting candidates" in wards in the constituency.

The nature of the allegations has not been revealed.

The decision to take control from Party members was welcomed by Ms Shah but some councillors and members say they are angered by it.

Councillor Richard Dunbar (Labour, Thornton and Allerton) said it was "rather strange and baffling" as the selection process had not yet started.

"We don't know what the allegations are and the first that councillors and Labour Party members of Bradford West heard about this was in the Telegraph & Argus."

He said it would have been "common courtesy" for Ms Shah to have included the membership in the "conversations".

"Clearly the NEC has not got all the facts at this stage. Bradford West councillors will be writing to them to express our outrage considering the great amount of work that has gone on over the past two years to win all ward seats in the constituency."

Cllr Dunbar added: "In the interests of justice and fairness, we would ask that our Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, gets involved to resolve this issue and to ensure that the voice of the membership is heard and they are able to make decisions on who their candidates are in each ward."

Rank-and-file member Zafar Ali, of Heaton, Bradford, said the Party decision was undemocratic and unfair.

Mr Ali, a cab driver and part-time actor, said he would consider a "boycott" of any candidates chosen by the NEC.

Paul Meszaros, acting chairman of the Bradford West Constituency Labour Party, said he was "mystified and disgusted" by the decision to take power away from members.

He said the selection process hadn't even started and he hadn't been told what the allegations are.

"They (the Party) are talking about imposing candidates and taking away votes from members in the name of democracy."

Bradford Council leader, Labour councillor David Green said: "It's a matter for the NEC and I wasn't consulted or forewarned and wouldn't have expected to be."

He added: "I haven't seen anything about what the decision was based on so cannot comment."

A Party source said various allegations had been made, including the "bullying" of members to vote a certain way and other individuals paying for several membership cards.

The Party declined to comment on those claims.