LIVERPOOL Councillor Anna Rothery has spoken out after she lost a bid in the High Court to force the Labour Party to include her on the city’s mayoral candidate shortlist.

Ms Rothery, the current Lord Mayor of Liverpool, was shortlisted for the role alongside Acting Mayor Wendy Simon and Ann O’Byrne, a former deputy mayor.

At a remote hearing today, Justice Cavanagh refused Ms Rothery’s application for an interim injunction on the basis that the decision to remove her from the shortlist was a “quintessentially political judgment” that the party had the right to make.
 
Ms Rothery said she was disappointed that the court would not examine the evidence and motivations behind the decisions. 

She said she will consider her options, but added that there is no remaining time for her name to be on the ballot.  

In a statement, Ms Rothery said: “It is disappointing that Labour members in Liverpool will not have the chance to vote for a truly socialist candidate.
 
“I thank all those who have shown me incredible support throughout this unsatisfactory process in which I have acted with integrity, honesty and dignity in my own conduct and towards the other candidates.  

“I will continue to fight for the democratic rights of the people of Liverpool, whom I am proud to serve as a councillor and Lord Mayor.”

Ms O’Byrne said today that the campaign to date had shown a radical manifesto could win in Liverpool, and reiterated her condemnation of the decision “denying members the opportunity to vote for any of the women who put themselves forward.” She called for Labour supporters to rally behind whoever is eventually chosen as the party’s candidate.