LABOUR hopefuls will have to sit out the summer before they discover who is odds-on favourite to become Leigh's next MP.

With long-serving Lawrence Cunliffe's decision not to stand at the next election the race to fill one of the safest seats in Parliament is continuing at a snail's pace.

The selection process was going full speed ahead earlier this year until a laptop computer scandal -- resulting in front runner Cllr Mark Hale being suspended from the Labour Party -- halted proceedings.

This week Leigh Constituency Labour Party vice-chairman John Clarke told The Journal: "The matter concerning Cllr Hale is to be resolved very shortly. Once it is out of the way we can go ahead with the procedure of selecting a candidate for the next election.

"The delay has arisen because Cllr Hale, one of the nominees, is under disciplinary suspension. He is hoping it is going to be resolved then the selection process can be put back in motion."

And Mr Clarke hopes those wheels will soon be in top gear.

"It should have been all over with in April. That's how far behind we are.

"Everybody wants a safe seat like Leigh, it's a job for life.

"One or two people have sent out CVs when technically speaking they shouldn't have done.

"I'd estimate there is still three months to go from the instant this matter is sorted before a candidate is selected.

"And with talk of perhaps there being a General Election next year we need to get a move on."

Sheila Murphy at the Labour Party's NW Regional office said the selection process would be delayed until after summer to give everyone equal opportunity.

She said: "At the earliest it would begin in early September. We hope it will be decided well in time for Christmas."

She confirmed that the process had been delayed because of the disciplinary matter concerning Cllr Hale.

"That is being dealt with at the moment. It is a very sensitive issue," she said, declining to comment further.