Call for MP hopefuls to face elections; Top Labour figures move for change.

Byline: William Green 

LABOUR should open the selection of Parliamentary candidates beyond party members through US-style "primary" elections, according to two of the party's most senior figures.

Government Chief Whip Nick Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband - both North East MPs - made the call yesterday, with Mr Brown saying it was vital to involve more people in key decisions.

Their call came after the Conservatives held an all-postal primary in Totnes this week, where more than 16,000 people voted to select the party's local candidate.

Mr Brown, who is Minister for the North East and a close ally of the Prime Minister, said: "It is an experience I would like to see developed, the more we involve people in our democracy the better.

"I certainly think we should look at what was done and see if we can learn any lessons for ourselves."

His comments came as Foreign Secretary David Miliband, MP for South Shields, said US-style primary elections would give the public a greater say in selecting candidates.

In an article for the left-leaning magazine Tribune, he said the traditional structures of mainstream political parties were "dying", leaving a gap between Labour's membership and its potential voter base.

"We say we want to listen to our voters, why not a system of registered voters as in the US to create the basis for primaries?" added Mr Miliband, who did not outline exactly what structure he wanted to see.

But he said a Greek party allowed people equal rights as members or "friends" - holding open primaries to select candidates for local elections.

Speaking to The Journal, Mr Brown said: "I would like to say the idea developed, but I don't want to just say 'right let's do it this way' because there are difficulties.

"The obvious difficulty is to allow people who don't traditionally support your party and would never support your party to take part in your primary election.

"That is not an argument against the idea, it is just a cautionary note.

"But anything that strengthens our democracy at the moment, I am in favour of exploring."

Mr Brown stressed the need for "some thought" about the possibility of Labour primaries in the North East and across the country with a large number of MPs stepping down.

Tory party chairman Eric Pickles said the turnout in the Totnes open primary exceeded his "wildest expectations" after 23.9% of the electorate took part and declared it a "success for democracy".

"I hope Totnes represents a new type of politics, which rejects negative campaigning, and sees openness as a way to restore confidence in public life.

"I hope over time that the primary process becomes a permanent fixture in British politics," he added.

A KEY ROLE

REGIONAL Minister Nick Brown is playing a key role in shaping the future of British democracy.

The Newcastle MP sits on critical Cabinet cabinets including the Democratic Renewal Council - as the Government's Chief Whip.

The push for reform has been given greater impetus in the wake of the scandal surrounding MPs' expenses, with Mr Brown now helping shape Government proposals. Mr Brown said one proposal was to phase out hereditary peers from the House of Lords and pointed out that the Commons had voted for an elected second chamber.

CAPTION(S):

BACKING Foreign Secretary David Miliband, above, and Nick Brown.