Keir Starmer has been urged to intervene in the selection process for a Labour target “red wall” seat, after a leading candidate who had the support of eight trade unions was blocked from standing. Greg Marshall, a Broxtowe borough councillor for Beeston West in Nottinghamshire, who previously stood as a candidate for Broxtowe in 2017 and 2019, was barred from contesting the seat on Monday, prompting the entire executive committee of Broxtowe constituency Labour party (CLP) to resign. Marshall was backed by eight unions and had the support of insiders from different Labour party factions, including Vernon Coaker and Alex Norris MP, who routinely shared their support on social media. Senior leftwing Labour MPs and former shadow cabinet ministers have urged Starmer’s office to reverse the decision, describing Marshall as the only local candidate with a “long history of service to the party”. In Broxtowe CLP committee’s resignation statement, the group accused Labour of acting in bad faith, insisting “the road to government runs through the Midlands and local people deserve local representation”. It said: “As a result of the undemocratic decision by the NEC to exclude the only local candidate from the Broxtowe long list, instead leaving us with three out-of-area contenders, we are resigning as the CLP executive committee. “It seems clear to us that the NEC have purposely blocked hugely popular local councillor, Greg Marshall, leaving a choice of candidates who have shown no dedication of time or effort to the CLP. The party has acted in bad faith and this is not something we can support.” The CLP has said its members would protest outside Labour’s regional office on Thursday if the decision has not been reversed. The former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “There is no person better equipped to stand for Labour in Broxtowe than Greg Marshall. A principled socialist and trade unionist working for years at the heart of his community. Many will consider that this decision debases the selection process. Keir Starmer needs to intervene.” Marshall described Labour’s move as a “tough pill to swallow”, claiming the party did not inform him of its decision to block him. He said: “Broxtowe is currently being failed by an ineffectual Tory MP who has no ties or commitment to the area. This remoteness has been the cornerstone of local Labour messaging since 2019, yet now our party members will be asked to go out and support a candidate of our own who is similarly remote and detached from Broxtowe.” Darren Henry is the Conservative MP for Broxtowe. Under Starmer’s leadership, the national executive committee (NEC) has exerted tight control over the final shortlisting of candidates in a range of seats. A Labour insider said Marshall’s inability to win in the previous two elections demonstrated the need for a fresh pair of hands to win the seat. A spokesperson said: “Thanks to Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour is now a serious, credible government in waiting and our candidates reflect that. Robust due diligence processes have been put in place to make sure everyone selected is of the highest calibre and for that we’ll make no apologies. “Labour has changed. Keir believes that politics can be a force for good, and that his government can restore the faith in it that 13 years of Tory government has carelessly eroded. The public rightly expect anyone asking to hold office is of the highest standard, and with Labour they can. We’re really pleased that outstanding Labour candidates have already been selected in constituencies across Britain, and that work continues.”