FORMER Oxford Lord Mayor Bryan Keen last night hit out at his own party – saying he was discriminated against due to his age and sex.

Mr Keen, 77, who failed to be re-selected for his Cowley seat, has been a Labour city councillor in Oxford for 21 years. He fell foul of the party’s re-selection procedure – and instead of being automatically re-selected like most sitting councillors, found himself before a local party panel.

Mr Keen says his age counted against him and said he may have been a victim of the desire of some colleagues to see more women councillors representing safe Labour seats like Cowley. Mr Keen said: “Basically, it is discrimination against an elderly member of the party. I was told that I have not worked hard enough. But I’ve worked for the local party for many years, 15 of them as an agent to Andrew Smith. I’m very bitter about the way I have been treated.

“Other people are disgusted about what has happened.

“It seems they want more women in safe wards – and the way to do it was to prevent me from standing.”

Mr Keen was unsuccessful in his appeal against the decision to deselect him.

Labour group leader Bob Price said last night: “Obviously he was disappointed but he has had a good run and he has done a sterling job over the years.”

Helen O’Hara will be fighting to hold the Cowley ward for Labour.

She is one of six women chosen by the party to fight city council seats that are held by opposition parties or where the sitting Labour candidate is not up for re-election at the May 3 poll.