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A West London Labour group is struggling to find enough female candidates ahead of the 2026 local elections.
In an email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) which was sent to Hillingdon Labour members, the party says "the [selection] process has now been paused as we do not have enough women on the panel longlist to see the selections through".
The email goes on to urge people to sign up to become a potential councillor. Unlike some parties, Labour has strict rules regarding gender balance. However, according to some councillors, this email is evident that a summer clear-out which saw three female councillors deselected or resign, has left the party short.
For the last few months, Hillingdon Labour have embarked on a clear-out which saw veteran councillor and group leader Cllr Peter Curling resign alongside three colleagues who shortly followed suit. Three of those four councillors were reportedly deselected by Labour.
Cllr Peter Curling, now leading the Hayes Independent Group, told the LDRS that it's sad to see his former party in "chaos". He said: "The authoritarian and toxic environment that has been cultivated in the Hillingdon Labour Party has resulted in chaos, with a very rapid decline in terms of membership and those willing to put themselves forward for public office.
"To take control of the council by a majority of one, it takes 27 seats and the fact that so far, the Labour Party has only managed to select 25 candidates suggests that they have given up all hope of taking control of Hillingdon in 2026.
"It would seem that the aim of selecting candidates of the highest standard, has been abandoned in favour of recruiting anyone who is prepared to defend the indefensible actions of the Government, and no doubt, willing to support a third runway at Heathrow.
"If, by some miracle, Hillingdon Labour do take control of the council, then they will have a great deal of difficulty in filling the roles of Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs, with people who have the right skills and experience to fulfil those roles."
Councillor Sital Punja, Deputy Leader of Hillingdon Labour, told the LDRS that "Hillingdon Labour are focused on one thing and that is winning next year's local elections in order to deliver a safer, cleaner and fairer borough".
She added: "We have already selected an incredible group of candidates who represent the diversity of the borough and bring competence and campaigning to the fore after decades of Tory mismanagement. Diversity including gender balance is not a tick box quota for the Labour Party but an opportunity to strive for genuine representation in politics at all levels.
"We are happy to reopen the selection process to meet the high standards expected of Labour councillors. This new Labour group is already holding this Conservative Council to account for their financial and moral bankruptcy and we are proud to be building and strengthening our team to win Hillingdon Council for the first time in 28 years."
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