A Labour Party activist alleged disability discrimination by the party after an attempt to be the candidate for Bolton West.

Steve Sutton attempted to be the candidate for the constituency last year in the contest which was won by Phil Brickell.

Mr Brickell, now the MP, and a number of others were invited to be interviewed but Mr Sutton was not invited to be interviewed and as a result he alleged disability discrimination by the party.

He attempted to take it to the Employment Tribunal but the Employment Tribunal threw out the case after consideration by Employment Judge Joanne Dunlop because he was not an employee.

ALSO READ: Bolton: Approval for replacement of plaque to Lord Leverhulme.

This is in spite of a Candidate Contract to which he was subject when he was a candidate for Astley Bridge Ward or Bromley Cross Ward in five consecutive council elections up until last year.

He was unsuccessful in all five consecutive council elections losing by as little as 14 votes on his latest attempt last year.

Employment Judge Dunlop's ruling said: "The purpose of the Candidate Contract is to ensure that the Labour Party gains the best possible outcome in electoral terms and that everybody is equipped to play their part in the process. The purpose is not to secure personal service from Mr Sutton nor to secure an employment relationship or quasi-employment relationship." 

Employment Judge Dunlop's ruling said: "[Mr Sutton] has no reasonable prospect of establishing that he was an employee. The test for strike out under Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure is met in that the claim has no reasonable prospect of success. To allow the claim to continue would be an abuse of process in circumstances where the tribunal has no jurisdiction."

ALSO READ: Bolton: Poseidon's chippy up for conversion into an HMO.

Mr Brickell is now the MP for Bolton West after he beat Chris Green, the MP of almost a decade, at the General Election on July 4. 

The Labour Party declined to comment. Mr Brickell declined to comment.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.