The Labour Party’s governing body is to launch an official investigation into the candidate selection process for council elections in Enfield.

Labour’s general secretary Jennie Formby has confirmed that the national executive committee (NEC) will carry out an investigation into the selections procedure, which took place in the run-up to the elections on May 3.

The confirmation came in correspondence from Ms Formby to Valerie Lestrade, chair of Enfield Southgate Constituency Labour Party (CLP).

Ms Lestrade emailed members of the CLP on Wednesday, July 4, to inform them of the development.

It comes shortly after half of the council’s current cabinet signed a letter to the NEC calling for investigations into the selections.

The selections ultimately determined which applicants were suitable to stand for election as councillors.

But members of the local Labour Party sounded the alarm over alleged “rule breaches” and “irregularities” in the selection process.

The irregularities included mandatory questions not being asked of certain candidates and interviewers failing to fully complete assessment forms.

Southgate CLP’s concerns were focused on secretary of the Local Campaign Forum (LCF) Nesil Caliskan - who is now council leader - and procedures secretary Ian Hamilton, both of whom played a senior role in administering the candidate interview process.

Following an audit of the interview process, complaints were raised about the way it was being handled and members of the LCF drew up a list of 27 questions for them to answer – but the officers refused to engage with them and the questions went unanswered.

After the elections, members of Southgate and Northgate CLPs overwhelmingly backed motions calling on the national party to intervene.

But the national Labour Party previously stated it was “satisfied” that the selection process “took place in line with Labour’s rules and procedures.”

Earlier this week, Enfield’s Conservative group leader Cllr Joanne Laban branded Enfield a “council in chaos” due to the ongoing tensions within the Labour group.

Jennie Formby, general secretary of the Labour Party, has emailed members stating: “Further to the email you have received in relation to the NEC investigation, to clarify we have received a number of complaints in relation to Enfield.

“It has been agreed to look into all of the complaints we have received with an objective of providing support to restore positive working relationships.”

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.