A DISCRIMINATION row has broken out over plans to draw up an all-female list of Labour candidates to fight the Burnley seat in the next general election.

Labour councillor Paul Moore today said he believed that senior figures within the Burnley Labour Party were using a policy designed to get more women into Westminster to prevent the selection of an Asian candidate.

He said there were fears that the BNP would get more votes if an Asian candidate stood at the General Election.

Shahid Malik, a member of the Labour Party's ruling National Executive Committee and the son of Daneshouse councillor Rafique Malik, is one of the male candidates linked with the job of replacing Peter Pike. He said the reason had also been suggested to him.

But senior vice-chair of the Burnley Labour Party, Maureen Martin dismissed the rumours and said there was a female Asian on the potential selection list.

Coun Moore, who represents Queensgate ward, said: "I believe some of the senior members in Burnley think that having an Asian candidate standing at the next General Election would put some people off voting Labour and make people vote for the BNP, so they see an all-female shortlist as a way of preventing this."

Shahid Malik said: "It has been suggested to me that it could be the case that an all female short-list is being used to prevent an Asian candidate standing.

"It is incredibly important that we set the agenda and not the BNP. We must not run and hide from them, but take them head on."

Maureen Martin said: "The decision ultimately lies with the National Executive Committee. We had a meeting where the possibility of an all female short-list was mentioned. One of the members present at the meeting called for a vote on the issue and that vote was overwhelmingly in favour.

"It was also decided to consult the party on a wider basis and that is why we have called a meeting for Monday. There has been no attempt by our our office to enforce this. It is not a decision we can make. It is nonsense to say that we are driving the issue.

"I voted against the issue because I think it discriminates against men and there are a lot of capable male candidates who would be eligible to stand. The whole thing is not about preventing Asians from being elected. There is an Asian woman on our Parliamentary panel."

The possibility of an all female short-list will be discussed at a meeting of the Burnley Labour Party at the Democratic League Club on Monday.