A LEADING female councillor in Blaenau Gwent says that the proposed all-women shortlist for the Labour party parliamentary candidate actually puts women off standing.

Labour councillor Gillian Clark told the Argus: "By imposing an all-women shor-tlist on Blaenau Gwent they are making it much harder for a woman to stand. It is ironic but the system is so unpopular with the local party that any woman who would have wanted to stand would now be put off.

"I am a woman and a councillor and I would be happy to stand against any man on any shortlist."

She said that reports yesterday that she had initially wanted to stand and decided against it were incorrect.

She said: "I never intended to stand in this election ." The controversial system is being used, despite the prot-ests of the constituency Lab-our Party, to pick a candidate who could succeed MP Llew Smith when he stands down at the next general election.

A number of local people say the process is undemocratic. The party's executive says it chose the system because it is the only way to promote equality.

Blaenau Gwent Labour Co-op Assembly Member Peter Law has threatened to stand as an independent candidate if the all-women list is im-posed.

Neighbouring Islwyn constituency Labour Party has passed a resolution to support Blaenau Gwent's fight.

Islwyn's MP and Wales minister Don Touhig has told the Argus that he supports the rebels. Islwyn's Constituency Labour Party secretary Tony Hooper said: "We have written to the party executive in London informing them of our deep unhappiness at what is being done."

A spokeswoman for the Labour Party in Wales said: "We want as many women as possible to come forward and for the members in Blaenau Gwent to choose their candidate in a secret ballot.

"Islwyn Labour Party are entitled to pass any motion they want and their views have been noted.

"This measure, designed to address the lack of Welsh women in parliament, was passed by a large majority at conference."