Labour decision to scrap all-woman shortlist greeted with disappointment

The decision by the Labour party to scrap its shortlist of candidates for Liverpool's mayoral elections has been greeted with disappointment.

To the shock of many, the decision was made to re-open the nomination process and find new candidates, disbanding the all-woman shortlist that had originally been in place.

Among the three candidates was the acting Mayor Wendy Simon, Ann O'Byrne who was the former deputy Mayor and the present Lord Mayor for Liverpool and OBV alumna Anna Rothery, who yesterday expressed her disappointment at the decision in an official statement.

As of yet, there has been no explanation for the decision, but there has been significant support for Anna Rothery from local party members such as Liverpool Walton MP, Dan Carden, as well as national figures such as Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn.

OBV CEO Lord Simon Woolley is another who has since given his reaction to the disappointing news.

This seems to be a massive own goal from the Labour Party; thwarting a Black woman from making history and becoming the first directly elected Black female Mayor in Liverpool and indeed Europe."

OBV CEO, Lord Simon Woolley

Anna's long relationship with the community in Liverpool has been documented by us at OBV and elsewhere on many occasions. She’s continued to volunteer her time to help support and push through the next generation of political hopefuls, doing so most recently during the OBV Liverpool Civic leadership programme.

She also made history last year, by becoming the first mayor in the city's council history to serve to successive terms as Mayor while her charitable endeavours within the city are well known given her involvement with The Anthony Walker Foundation, the Amadudu Women's Refuge centre, LCR Pride and Merseyside Somali Association.

OBV COO Ashok Viswanathan also gave his reaction to the news, and once more, highlighted Anna Rothery’s continued work as a community leader, as leaving her well placed for the role.

Anna has been a pioneer on OBV programmes, in the trade unionist movement, and in Liverpool as a resident, community leader and as a politician. Liverpool and it’s future could not be in better hands.”

OBV COO, Ashok Viswanathan

Mayowa Ayodele

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