Northern Ireland

Labour Party not standing in assembly election

The Labour Party will not field candidates in next month's assembly elections
The Labour Party will not field candidates in next month's assembly elections The Labour Party will not field candidates in next month's assembly elections

THE Labour Party will not be contesting next month's Stormont assembly elections despite activists' continued efforts to field candidates.

A statement issued on Monday by regional Labour secretary Boyd Black, said the failure to contest the May poll was the fault of the party's national executive council in Britain.

Last month Mr Black told The Irish News there has never been a greater chance for fielding candidates in the region.

He was referring to British-based Labour's review of its policy of not standing candidates in the north, which has yet to conclude.

Mr Black said the regional party's membership had grown four fold since 2012 and now stands at 1,200 with an additional 700 registered supporters across 12 branches.

Previously the Labour flag in the north was carried by the affiliated but separate Northern Ireland Labour Party.

Since 2003, British Labour has allowed membership in the north but has not contested elections.