Cllr Shama Tatler is in the spotlight after London Labour announced her as the parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green following the unceremonious sacking of long-term candidate Faiza Shaheen by Keir Starmer yesterday. This means that she has been chosen centrally by Labour rather than going through the local democratic selection process.
Faiza Shaheen, a new mother and local had been campaigning in the seat for four years. It remains to be seen whether the Brent Lead Member for Regeneration will benefit from that work.
Faiza Shaheen said on Twitter:
Really! Wow a Brent councillor with no history here at all. They would rather lose than have a left pro-Palestine candidate. This is offensive to my community.
It appears that Tatler has been parachuted into a bed of nettles amidst the current controversy over a 'Starmerite purge' and allegations of a negative attitude towards ethnic minority and female candidates in the wake of the leadership's treatment of Diane Abbott. Of course Shama Tatler is also ethnic minority and female.
There were mixed comments on Twitter with some pointing to Tatler's membership of the JLM as finding favour with Starmer. LINK One person accused her of 'trampling' on Faiza Shaheen.
Shama Tatler is on Labour's NCC the party's disciplinary committee and backed Luke Akenhurst for the NEC. I understand that there is currently a conduct complaint against her lodged with the Labour Party.
She previously sought the Labour parliamentary candidate nomination for Watford. This video was part of her campaign.
Meanwhile people are flocking to the support of Faiza Shaheen after her emotional interview on Newsnight last night.
Faiza Shaheen's statement on yesterday's events:
Following boundary changes, what are the chances of Shama Tatler winning the seat previously held by Ian Duncan Smith for the Conservatives? The website Electoral Calculus has the projection below but this does not take into account the latest developments and the possibility of an Independent campaign by Faiza Shaheen.
