by Chris McLaughlin
A Labour MP has made an extraordinary intervention in the selection of his successor amid allegations of nepotism and rule-breaking in the safe south east London seat of Erith and Thamesmead.
John Austin, who had a majority of 11,500 at the 2005 general election, stepped in over a “number of incidents during the selection process that cause me so much concern that I have decided to speak out”.
In a letter to constituency party members Mr Austin, who is retiring at the next election, makes an impassioned call for the selection of a local candidate.
His plea follows controversy around Georgia Gould,
22-year-old daughter of Tony Blair’s polling guru Philip (now Lord) Gould, who some activists accuse of being “parachuted” into a safe seat with the help of “new” Labour figures such as Alastair Campbell and former party general secretary Margaret McDonagh.
Both have made telephone calls to members in support of Ms Gould, which does not break any party rules on selections. But questions are being focused on postal votes and canvassers from outside the constituency.
In his letter to members, Mr Austin, who is on a parliamentary delegation abroad and could not be contacted, says: “There has been an unusually large number of applications for postal votes and some members have expressed concerns about this.”
One member told Tribune that she was visited at home by two young people she thought were students and who announced that they were from the Labour Party.
“They had a postal vote application form filled in with my name, address and phone number and even a reason for me not being able to vote in person. I did sign it but I will be going to the meeting in person. As they were leaving they revealed that they were supporters of Georgia Gould. If they had said that from the start, I could have told them I would be voting for a local candidate.”
Ms Gould’s main rival is Rachel Maskell, a national officer for Unite the union, which is backing her candidacy.
Ms Maskell, who lives just outside the constituency and is active in the Christian Socialist movement, did not wish to comment on any other campaign but said: “I stand very much as a south east London candidate and a trade unionist who wants to see the party restored to our core values.”
Mr Austin told members that he had intended to remain neutral, but that: “ I believe we need a local candidate who knows and understands the constituency.”
Lord Gould has issued a statement saying his daughter has had no preferential treatment and is the victim of a smear campaign.
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