A Labour MP who faces deselection at the hands of local activists is not being targeted as part of a "factionalised" plot, the party's shadow attorney general has told Sky News.

Diana Johnson, who represents Kingston-upon-Hull North in the House of Commons, is fighting for her political future over the move.

She has become the first Labour MP to face being deselected under new party rules agreed last year, and must now fight to be selected as its candidate after serving as an MP since 2005.

Ms Johnson has said she is "disappointed" and is considering challenging the move.

My statement on the trigger ballot process in Hull North CLP. pic.twitter.com/EcEw5lRc6X — Diana Johnson (@DianaJohnsonMP) September 7, 2019

Only a third of either local party members or the same percentage of affiliate groups, such as unions, have to vote in favour of a selection contest for it to be triggered.


Under the previous rules, half of both local members and affiliates had to back a fresh contest.

Baroness Chakrabarti, Labour's frontbench chief legal adviser, insisted it did "not mean that she's been deselected" and added the process was "very common".

Image: Baroness Shami Chakrabarti said the process was 'very common'

"There will be a shortlist - it'll be an all women shortlist - and no doubt she'll be on it," the peer and director of human rights charity Liberty told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

"I don't believe that this is targeted, from what I've heard, this is not some plot or some factional polarisation issue.

"There may be some other people like this but it's not organised, it's not targeted, it's not polarised and it's perfectly possible that she will sail through it and be the candidate."

She added that if an election is called, the national executive could step in to decide whether to "keep or suspend that process".

Image: MP Caroline Flint said Labour should focus on preparing for an election

Labour MP Caroline Flint told Sophy Ridge on Sunday Ms Johnson was an "excellent MP".

"I would have thought that our main priority is not to be having administrative selections," she said.

"But actually we should all be focused on campaigning… and allow people like Diana Johnson to do what she does best, which is being an excellent constituency and national MP."