At the risk of further accusations of fuelling dissent in neighbouring Tower Hamlets, here's the timeline:
21 October 2010 - election of a sitting councillor as elected Mayor triggering a Council by-election in Spitalfields and Banglatown Ward
29 October 2010 - letter sent inviting applications from candidates wishing to stand to represent the Labour Party in the above ward
4 November 2010 - deadline for applications for Labour Party members to apply
6 November 2010 - 'Selection Panel' approved by/appointed by London Labour Party 'selects' candidate
UPDATE 11 November
11 November 2010 - Tower Hamlets Labour Party Executive Committee meets (London Regional Director Ken Clark has written to local chair Graham Taylor banning all party meetings until after the S&B by-election on 16 December)
19 November 2010 - deadline for nomination of candidates for the Spitalfields and Banglatown ward by-election
It is highly likely I have missed out some important steps in this process. But the questions that arise are:
1) who authorised the procedure adopted?
2) why were ward members excluded from the selection process at the outset?
3) is it humanly possible to amend for the errors and enable all members in Spitalfields and Banglatown Ward to decide for themselves who should be the Labour Party candidate in the by-election?
On the final point, I would just add that I am about to circulate a communication to all members in the City of London (Branch) Labour Party. I know all 80 plus members will have been sent the communique before the close of business today, with the exception of three who will (subject to the readiness of CWU members to deliver first class post next day) get the mailout tomorrow.
Why can't the members of neighbouring Spitalfields and Banglatown Branch Labour Party enjoy the same service?
UPDATE 2150 - Local paper reports Labour withdraws Spitalfields and Banglatown candidate after ‘outraged’ members complain http://bit.ly/bOR2XD
Let's await confirmation.