Five Middlesbrough councillors 'de-selected' from Labour Party

Councillors Len Junier, Pervaz Khan, Sajaad Khan, Derek Loughborough and John McPartland have been 'de-selected' from Labour Party

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Five Middlesbrough councillors 'de-selected' from Labour Party

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Five Middlesbrough councillors have been "de-selected" from the Labour Party, it can be revealed exclusively.

The five are:

• Councillor Len Junier, who represents North Ormesby and Brambles Farm ward;

• Councillor Pervaz Khan, who represents Middlehaven ward;

• Councillor Sajaad Khan, who represents Gresham ward;

• Councillor Derek Loughborough, who represents North Ormesby and Brambles Farm ward;

• Councillor John McPartland, who represents Middlehaven ward.

They will continue to work as councillors until the May 2015 election.

They each have the right to appeal against the decision.

Steve Cass, chairman of Middlesbrough’s Local Campaign Forum - the body charged with organising the interview and selections process for Labour Party candidates, said: “The process of selecting Labour’s candidates for local elections is still ongoing and those who are unsuccessful have a right to appeal, meaning it would be unfair to comment on individual cases.

“Interviews of those wishing to stand for Labour have been carried out by members from both Middlesbrough and from outside of the borough.”

It is not known why the councillors have not been selected at present.

All five councillors declined to comment.

Cllr P. Khan and Cllr Loughboruough were suspended last year over claims they had paid people to join the party.

After an investigation by the national Labour party, their "administrative suspensions" were later lifted.