No10 faces backlash over Brent candidate

Downing Street today faced a furious backlash over attempts to foist its own candidate on the Labour stronghold of Brent South.

Local activists fear Tony Blair is looking to parachute in a key lieutenant to replace Paul Boateng who is leaving Westminster at the election to become the High Commissioner to South Africa.

Tomorrow Labour's ruling National Executive Committee will announce its shortlist of candidates for the seat. The rank and file believe the party should have drawn up an all-black list of candidates in recognition of the seat's multi-cultural composition.

Local party members have warned that activists will feel "aggrieved and frustrated" if No 10 uses the emergency selection procedure to impose its own candidate.

Brent councillor Bobby Thomas said: "We have worked hard at a local level to improve the standing of Brent. I think for somebody to come in without having played any part in that process and without knowing what the issues are and not living locally would be frustrating and not what people want."