THE Labour Party has taken control of the selection process in six Bradford Council wards over allegations about how candidates were being chosen, it has been revealed.

In a statement tonight, a spokesman for the Party said the selection of candidates in the six wards in Bradford West would be put in the hands of a panel of the National Executive Committee, rather than left with Party members.

The Party hasn't revealed the nature of the allegations.

A spokesperson for the Yorkshire and the Humber Labour Party said: "After receiving allegations surrounding the process of selecting candidates in wards of the Bradford West constituency to contest the May 2016 local authority elections, The NEC (National Executive Committee) of the Labour Party has today ruled that the selection of candidates in the six wards that make up the Bradford West constituency will be made by a panel of the NEC. Party members continue to select candidates in all other parts of Bradford."

Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah said in a statment: "I welcome today’s very difficult ruling by the National Executive Committee.

"I have said consistently since being selected as Labour’s candidate for Bradford West, and since serving as MP, that I am determined to see our local party renewed and reach the standards of transparency and inclusivity that members and our constituents deserve.

"We have great councillors here and a Labour Group doing a fantastic job of running Bradford Council - bringing in investment, finally seeing the wonderful Broadway shopping centre open, getting hundreds of people into work with the Get Bradford Working scheme, improving transport links and acting to try and tackle health inequality.

"We must make sure we have high calibre candidates selected in such a way that they can carry the confidence and support of local people, so that Labour makes the gains at May’s local elections I'm confident we will achieve.

"I hope local members come together to work towards backing the candidates selected and securing victories for Labour here in May."