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Labour is selecting its candidate to fight the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat on Sunday.

Interviews were held in London on Friday and a shortlist of just three names has emerged.

They are Riaz Ahmad, Abdul Jabbar and Debbie Abrahams.

A number of Labour members have been surprised and disappointed at the restricted choice.

To be fair, Riaz Ahmad was a likely contender. He is a former Mayor of Oldham and chairs NHS Oldham. He has strong local support.

Abdul Jabbar is also a former Oldham Mayor, and was the first Bangladeshi mayor anywhere in the country. He still serves as a senior councillor.

Debbie Abrahams was the Labour candidate in neighbouring Colne Valley at the general election. She works at Liverpool University and is a former chairwoman of Rochdale Primary Care Trust.

Both names seem to have taken most people by surprise.

Saddleworth News has more details on .

Even more surprising are the names left out.

For many Afzal Khan was the strongest contender. He is a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, a lawyer and had many supporters in the area.

Nigel Newton is popular as a successful businessman and councillor.

Peter Wheeler is a respected Labour figure and until recently a member of the NEC.

While the former Leader of Oldham Council, John Battye, is popular in the local party but was probably too closely associated with Phil Woolas' election campaign.

In total, we know about eighty people applied and around twenty were interviewed.

What is not clear is why several high quality candidates were left off the list. With just three names on the shortlist, it's hardly full.

There is a fair bit of anger among Labour activists at the way this has been handled.

Some even wonder privately if it will cost them the election.

It is hardly unknown for political parties to fix a selection by sending through one good name and a few duds.

But if that's happened here, it's not entirely clear who the NEC is backing.

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