LABOUR will field a woman to fight for health minister Tom Sackville's Bolton seat at the next general election.

But today's news that Bolton West is included in a list of constituencies ordered by the Labour hierarchy to draw up a "women-only" shortlist has dismayed many party workers.

And even true-blue Tom Sackville said today: "This country led the move to entitle the whole nation to the franchise. This is brazen sex discrimination against men. But it really doesn't matter to me what sex an election opponent is."

Labour had been confident that long serving Bolton councillor Cliff Morris would be selected to fight the seat for a second time - and they were confident he would win.

But the decision dashes his hopes of even trying for selection.

Bolton Council's deputy leader Cllr Guy Harkin had also been tipped to try for Bolton West but stood aside so that he could give his full support to Cllr Morris's bid.

Cllr Harkin said today: "This is disastrous. I will obviously support a woman candidate, but it has been a bad decision.

"Cliff Morris would have been an excellent candidate. He was the man for this seat and he would have won.

"These decisions are taken nationally and however much we disagree with them we have to abide by them. But many people will be dismayed."

Salford, Stretford, Rochdale, Warrington South and Blackpool North/Fleetwood are other NW constituencies which have been ordered to field women-only shortlists for selection. Another three volunteered to have all women.

It had been widely rumoured that it would be the other Tory-held Bolton constituency, Bolton North-east, that would be ordered to field a woman candidate.

Labour's decision to field more women candidates is to try to even out the massive imbalance of the sexes in the Commons.

Cllr Morris was on the streets helping in the Halliwell by-election today and could not be contacted.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.