SCOTTISH Labour is embroiled in a bitter race row in one of the party’s Westminster selection contests in Glasgow.

Party sources are furious that dozens of Asian members recruited by Anas Sarwar’s leadership campaign last year will not be able to take part in an internal vote in Glasgow South West because they haven't been in the party for long enough.

The selection contest is pitting left-winger Matt Kerr against Sarwar leadership backer Asim Khan.

A pro-Khan member said: “It’s absolutely no coincidence that this seat has a large number of Asian members who will now be disenfranchised. For the party of equality, this is an utterly shameful moment in our history.”

However, a party insider hit back: “Anyone who says this is a racist decision is simply a villain who is playing the race card.”

Last year’s leadership contest between Richard Leonard and Sarwar was marked by a recruitment surge in September and October.

Leonard, who defeated his rival, was helped by trade union supporters enrolling to participate in the contest, while Sarwar backers signed up thousands of new members.

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Questions were raised about authenticity after it emerged that some of the new members shared phone numbers and email addresses.

Now, the row has spilled over into Labour’s Westminster candidate selections, which will take place over the next few weeks.

A top target is Glasgow South West, where the SNP’s Chris Stephens clung on by 60 votes at the last general election.

Four members are said to be interested in seeking the candidacy, but the contest has two frontrunners.

Glasgow councillor Kerr, whose father is Andy Kerr, the chair of UK Labour’s national executive committee, is in the running.

He is expected to face a challenge from Khan, a lawyer who was a Sarwar supporter during the leadership battle. Former MSP Hanzala Malik is also taking part.

The row centres on the “freeze date” for the contest which, once agreed, allows everyone who has at least six months continuous membership a vote.

Dozens of new members who signed up during last year’s leadership contest would be eligible to vote if the freeze date was set at April or later.

Two dates were suggested: March 21, which would exclude many of the Sarwar campaign recruits; and early April, which would disbar a smaller number.

Following independent legal advice from a QC to the Scottish party, the March date was agreed.

It is believed the decision means that over 80 members who signed up last year, the overwhelming majority of whom are Asian, will not get a vote.

A Labour source said Khan had been disadvantaged, adding: “This is a stitch up to help the son of the chair of the NEC become an MP. No other seat is rushing the selection process like this. It’s disgraceful.”

However, another source staunchly defended the process: “This has been an objective decision taken on the basis of the party’s rules.”

Neither Kerr nor Khan responded when contacted for comment.

Speaking about his candidacy, Malik told this newspaper: “There’s too much interference in Labour by businesses and the trade unions. Ordinary people like me are getting crushed in the stampede.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Local members will select our candidate in Glasgow South West and they will campaign every day to overturn an SNP majority of just 60 votes. The last election saw a swing from the SNP to Labour of over 20 per cent - the people of Glasgow are once again listening to Labour’s message of real change for the many.”