ON January 16 you published a letter from Johann Lamont, chair of Govan Constituency Labour Party. As the vice-chair I have like her tried to keep my own counsel on the matter of the candidate selection. I must however write in reponse to what she has said.

I am surprised that she seems to be suggesting that there were no flaws in the process whatsoever and that everything was completely above board. I am even more surprised to read her stout defence of the CLP secretary, Donna Mackinnon, and her role in the process.

I thought that Johann Lamont was as appalled as I was at the way that Donna Mackinnon acted in the verification process.

One example involved Faiza Sarwar, the daughter of Mohammad Sarwar. She was ruled ineligible because she was not on the electoral register.

She was not on the register because at the time it was compiled, she was not old enough to vote.

She was able to prove that she was resident at her home address - that of her parents - and was clearly eligible to vote under the spirit and the letter of the Labour Party rules. Her appeal to the party executive was turned down amid complete incredulity from those present who were not diehard supporters of Mike Watson.

Many other equally ludicrous decisions were pushed through at that meeting, by Mike Watson's supporters, to force the party organiser, Lesley Quinn, to rule on the eligibility of members, putting her under extreme pressure. This was clearly an abuse of the system and one which Mike Watson's supporters carried out throughout the selection process.

I am surprised that Johann Lamont chooses to repeat their version of events, giving it more credibility than it deserves. I am even more surprised that she takes such issue with Jimmy Reid's comments, which have been a clarion voice on the issue of the Govan selection.

I would have thought that as a feminist she would understand the anger and sense of injustice that we Asians in the Labour Party feel.

Mohammad Shoaib,

8 Glencairn Drive,

Glasgow.