Bradford's Lady Mayoress Christine Mason today revealed she had been deselected by the Labour party, ruling her out of next year's Council elections.

Councillor Mason - part way through her year in office with her councillor husband Harry, the Lord Mayor - said she was "bitterly disappointed" by the shock decision.

Her husband, who represents the same Queensbury ward, said she had become a victim of party infighting.

Coun Mason said she was prevented from defending her seat at a branch meeting.

The decision, made by a panel of 21 members, followed a serious "clash of personalities" within the party, she said.

Coun Mason said the selection panel had been swayed to vote her out, barring her from standing for what is expected to be a fiercely contested seat.

Last year, Tory Andrew Smith was elected into the three-seat Queensbury ward after long-standing Labour councillor Jack Womersley resigned. The new Labour candidate will be John Crewdson.

"I am bitterly disappointed but that is politics and there is nothing I can do," said Coun Mason.

The Lord Mayor said he was bitterly disappointed and added his wife had become a victim of internal squabbles within the party.

He added: "In my view she was blamed for infighting which was nothing to do with her."

The wheelchair-bound Lord Mayor said the branch had not taken into account the work she had done while he was seriously ill in hospital.

"She has been a damn good Lady Mayoress and a damn good Mayor while I was in hospital, because during those six months that is what she effectively was." He said although Coun Mason had only held her post for four years, she had worked hard for the branch for around 16 years.

The Lady Mayoress said: "I think I have done an adequate job as a councillor. Although I have not been a high-profile councillor, I think I have worked hard for the people of my ward." Coun Mason will continue with her duties as Lady Mayoress and ward councillor until the coming elections in May next year. The Lord Mayor insisted he would stand for election in two years if his health permitted it.

The Lady Mayoress said: "I am not happy about this decision at all. I don't know if I will put myself forward in future years. It is too early to say."

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