LABOUR Party bosses have reversed their controversial decision to only put women forward to represent Burnley at the next general election.

The U-turn by Labour head office comes after overwhelming opposition from grass-roots activists, who said the “ridiculous” decision would harm the party’s chances at the ballot box.

Now several high-profile male candidates are expected to enter the race to replace Kitty Ussher, who is standing down in the wake of a storm over her expenses.

Ms Ussher, who was chosen from a women-only list in 2005 to try and increase the number of female MPs, said: “I think it’s great news - a lot of people wanted it to happen.”

Her predecessor Peter Pike, chairman of Burnley Labour Party, said a women only shortlist had been unpopular with supporters.

He said: "The local party has always expressed the view that we wanted an open shortlist. When we heard it was going to be an all-woman shortlist we put forward a case against that.

"This decision allows the Burnley Labour Party to choose the best candidate, whether that be a man or a woman, and that is what we have always wanted.”

The decision was made yesterday morning by Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is lead by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The NEC is made up of MPs, Labour councillors and trade unionists and is responsible for the development of party policy.

Concerns have been expressed that the delay in finalising the shortlist will cost the party as the winning candidate will have less time on the campaign trail than their rivals.

The two other major parties have already chosen their prospective candidates, with Richard Ali representing the Conservatives and Gordon Birtwistle the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Pike said: "We would now like to get whoever our candidate may be in place as soon as possible, and get out campaigning.”

Tony Martin, former county councillor for Burnley Central West, is a front-runner to be included in the new shortlist He said: “I am delighted by this decision, we should pick the best available candidate.

“I am in favour of encouraging more women and ethnic minorities to stand but this is not like 1997 when we were riding high in the polls with a 20 point lead.

“We are in a difficult position now and we need to pick the best possible candidate for the town.”

Marcus Johnstone, former county councillor for Padiham and Burnley West, has also been linked with the up-coming MP vacancy.

At the time of the women-only announcement on September 9 he said that it was a “very, very regrettable decision”.

Coun Julie Cooper, who has already announced her intention to put her name forward to be Labour candidate in Burnley, said: “I think this decision was being seen as a weakness in the town and people weren’t happy about it.

“I am delighted at the change of mind. I still fully intend to stand and at least we now know whoever represents the party will be the best candidate available.”

Mr Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council and the Liberal Democrat prospective candidate, said: “It is a decision for the Labour Party but the town should be able to choose the best candidate, man or woman.

“You have to fight whoever is put forward as a candidate, but it should be the best available person.”

A North West Labour Party spokesperson said: “After discussion with Burnley CLP, the NEC Organisational Subcommittee has taken the decision that the selection process for Burnley will be an open shortlist.”

After the 2005 general election, just over a quarter of Labour’s 356 MPs were women.

Across the Commons, just under 20 per cent of the 646 MPs were female.

What the people of Burnley think

PEOPLE on the streets of Burnley have backed the decision by the Labour Party to allow candidates of both sexes to represent it at the next election.

Most felt that positive discrimination may mean the best person for the job was not necessarily chosen.

Gill Cooper, Knowsley Road, Burnley, said: “It is never a good idea to discriminate against anyone on this basis. It should be down to their policies."

Her husband Stuart Cooper, Knowsley Road, Burnley, said: "It doesn't make a difference where a person comes from, or if it is a man or a woman, just as long as they have got policies which will help the working classes in Burnley.

“The all-women shortlist just felt like there was too much central control involved.”

Irene Lee, from Harle Syke, said: "It should always be the best person for the job. I've never been in favour of positive discrimination. I don't really feel we should be making these kind of decisions on that basis."

Melissa Potts, also Harle Syke, said: "It's quite important that we get the right person for Burnley, someone who will look after things like the accident and emergency department at the hospital, rather than whether it's a man or a woman."

Alex Bowland, from Colne, said: "You would think it was fairly self-explanatory really, the right person for the job should get it."

His sister, Georgia Bowland, from Colne, said: It will probably please more people now that they've got rid of the all-women shortlist. The person should be local but it would not really bother me if it was a man or a woman.”

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