Controversy
Before the passing of Labour MP Piara Khabra, the local Labour party had agreed to implement an All-Women Shortlist (AWS) at the next general election. Khabra himself had supported a female-only selection and was quoted in the local press as having said "I can assure you the women candidates are far better." However, other, now former members of the local party, did not share the vision of having a more representative parliament and unsuccessfully campaigned against the implementation of the AWS.
Piara Khabra died at Hammersmith Hospital on 19 June 2007, his death triggering a by-election in Ealing Southall. Many commentators were surprised when the Labour Party's National Executive Committee repealed the AWS and gave its backing to two male candidates for the selection process. Of the two candidates, Norwood Green councillor Virendra Sharma received the final nomination to represent the Labour party in Ealing Southall constituency and, having won the by-election, was elected as the new MP on 19 July 2007.
Though there is uncertainty as to why the Labour Party's National Executive Committee repealed the Ealing Southall AWS, commentators of a popular blog on progressive politics have claimed the party had ‘bottled it.’ It is reported that fellow Labour MPs such as Fiona Mactaggart were furious with the outcome and made their views known with senior members of the party.
Read more about this topic: Sonika Nirwal
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