West Midlands Conservatives have been likened to North Korea after members were invited to select their mayoral candidate from a short-list of ONE.

Labour grandee Lord Snape has described the selection of Andy Street as West Midlands Mayor candidate as an ‘affront to modern political discourse’ in an open letter to Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin.

The Conservatives hit back describing the Labour outrage as a ‘stunt’ and being only interested in political games rather than tackling the issues.

Lord Snape, the former Labour MP for West Bromwich East, said: “It appears that there has been no due process at all and he is no more than an imposed candidate. In short, there was a shortlist of one; Mr. Street.

“This so-called selection appears to be nothing more than a fait accompli. It goes to show that the Conservative Party is still an organisation where big decisions are made by shadowy figures in smoke-filled rooms, with no transparent due process.”

He described it as a ‘culture of totalitarianism’ and added: “Your North-Korean style of internal party selections is an affront to modern political discourse and falls well below the standards that people in the West Midlands expect.”

Selection like that of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un say Labour

The Birmingham Mail understands the Conservatives invited applications from members to become candidate. But Mr Street, who is stepping down as managing director of John Lewis, was the only potential candidate to come forward.

Party members from across the region were invited to a meeting at the Royal British Legion Club in Knowle for a vote to endorse Mr Street on Thursday night. Not surprisingly he won.

Mr Street will be on stage at the Symphony Hall welcoming the Conservative members to Birmingham at opening session of the party conference on Sunday.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Andy Street was selected as Conservative Party candidate for West Midlands Mayor in accordance with party rules at a meeting of party members.

“This stunt by Labour shows once again how Jeremy Corbyn’s mayoral candidate is only interested in political games rather than delivering on jobs, transport and skills for the people of the West Midlands.”

It means the gloves are off and the battle to be the first West Midlands mayor on May 4, 2017 is well and truly underway.

Labour’s candidate, the Euro-MP Sion Simon, was selected in a postal ballot of members after a long list of five candidates was whittled down to two.