THE Labour Party may have to wait weeks before it knows who will represent it in two key marginal seats.

Many in the party had anticipated that its National Executive Committee (NEC) would decide yesterday whether an all-women shortlist or an open list should be used to select a candidate for the Wavertree seat.

North West regional officer Anna Hutchinson confirmed that the decision would not be made by the NEC and instead by its organisational sub-committee.

The party’s candidacy for Wavertree fell vacant after Jane Kennedy announced she would be standing down at the next General Election.

It is anticipated that the subcommittee will meet before Christmas, and will decide the process to be followed for Wavertree and also Sefton Central.

Sefton Central is a new seat, created mostly out of the current Crosby seat which is occupied by Claire Curtis-Thomas who is standing down at the next General Election.

Wavertree vice-chairman Louise Baldock said the local party will meet on Friday to decide if it has preference for an all women shortlist, or an open list.

Sefton Central has already met to decide its preference, but Ms Hutchinson said its decision was not being made public.