Sam Tarry, a Labour MP, called the vote a “fabricated political circus” and wanted more information about how his local members had decided not to support him as a candidate.
On Monday night, the former shadow transport minister was put to the vote in his Ilford South district after local branches approved the reelection procedure.
By losing by 499 votes to 361, Mr. Tarry will not be eligible to run as the Labour candidate for the seat in the upcoming general election. Instead, local members have chosen Jas Athwal, the leader of Redbridge Council, to take his place.
In a statement issued this morning, Mr. Tarry expressed his “crestfallenness” and “great concern” about the outcome, claiming that it did not correspond with the impression his campaign team received or the “meticulous data” they acquired.
“The outcome of last night’s Ilford South selection has really crushed me. For the decent people of Ilford, who deserve more than to have been at the centre of a staged political circus, rather than for myself, ” said Mr. Tarry.
“I am extremely concerned about the result, which does not reflect the feeling my campaigners met on the ground talking day in day out to members, or the extensive meticulous data we gathered on the campaign.
“I am taking some time to consider what’s next, but in order to be assured of the integrity of the result I am asking the party to share with me the full information of who cast electronic votes, by what method, and when they were cast, which I understand is available in the ‘Anonyvoter’ system.
“In the meantime, I will continue to represent the people of Ilford South the way I have done for the past three years – with integrity, generosity and inclusivity.”
