A FORMER spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn had his chance to run as a Labour candidate in his local constituency blocked after his party’s decision to have an all-women’s shortlist.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, who is spokesman for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, was thinking of running for the constituency of Rochford and Southend East in future.

But he said he fully supports his party’s decision to achieve gender balance across Parliament.

He said: “I was considering standing in Rochford and Southend East, but it was made an all-women’s shortlist, so that made my mind up for me.

“I support the shortlist as it’s important we address the structural issues that have led to fewer female than male MPs, and Rochford and Southend East Labour Party voted to be an all-women’s shortlist, so of course I support that democratic decision.”

The all-women’s shortlist is part of Mr Corbyn’s overall aim to achieve a 50-50 gender balance in Parliament.

At a Labour national executive committee meeting this month, members agreed that 46 of 76 key marginal seats in the country will have an all-women’s shortlist - meaning 60 per cent of the seats would use an all-women’s shortlist.

Ashleigh Dalton, chairman of the Southend Labour Party, said: “Southend Labour carried out an online consultation with Labour Party members, we had 50 per cent in favour of the women’s shortlist, while 30 per cent objected. We’re also aiming to have half of our wards in Southend to having a women’s shortlist.”

However, James Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East Tory MP, panned the idea as unfair.

He said: “I am not in favour of all women shortlists but do work with female candidates to help get them elected and selected to improve the representation of women in Parliament both in the UK and overseas.”

David Garston, Tory Southend councillor representing Prittlewell, said: “It’s up to the party to make this choice. But to me, in principal, this idea is wrong. I think candidates should be selected based on quality. The Conservative Party has much more liberal views, and fairer attitudes when we choose our candidates, but I agree we should have gender balance.”