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Police were called to a Labour Party selection ballot last night amid scenes of “total chaos” that witnesses said left female voters feeling intimidated.

Hundreds of people turned out to vote in the Poplar and Limehouse selection in which Jeremy Corbyn ally Apsana Begum was voted in as Labour’s next parliamentary candidate.

Crowds started gathering outside St Paul’s church in Bow Common from 3pm, almost two hours before people were allowed inside.

Video footage shows people jostling to get inside the church while others call on them to step back.

Party members described it as “hostile and dangerous” and others said they left without casting a vote.

A 34-year-old female party member told the Standard: “It was a very intimidating environment for any women or people with disabilities. The majority was men. I saw people telling others who to vote for.

“A skirmish almost broke out when a man tried to take his wife’s ballot and fill it out but she opposed.”

Another party member added: “It was a chaotic crowd made up of men arguing with each other and pushing.

“This intimidated women especially. People turned away because they felt they couldn’t deal with the hostile atmosphere. It was total chaos.”

Suzy Stride, a member of Poplar and Limehouse Labour Party, said she had “serious concerns” about the process and added: “The party needs to learn lessons from this debacle. Some members clearly felt intimidated.”

Ms Begum, who was backed by the Left-wing group Momentum, was nominated from the women-only shortlist.

Tweeting after her selection, she said: “I’m humbled and excited to have been selected to run as the Labour candidate in Poplar and Limehouse. We ran a clean, positive and people-powered campaign.”

The current Labour MP, Jim Fitzpatrick, is set to stand down at the next election after 21 years as an MP.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: “A member of the public called at about 5pm. I believe the debate had got heated. Police arrived and had chat to organisers. There was no issue.”

A Labour Party source said: “Registration was overseen by party staff and full checks were conducted. The ballot itself was overseen by senior party staff and we are confident in the integrity of the process.”