ST ALBANS MP Anne Main's candidacy in next year's General Elections has been 'considerably weakened' by her party's dissenters, a political rival has claimed.

Labour parliamentary candidate Roma Mills spoke to the Review this morning following Mrs Main's escape from de-selection last night.

She said:" It seems to me that she has the majority of support behind her and she will go forward with that, but her position has been weakened.

"If senior members of your party have resigned it weakens your candidacy.

"Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the issue, in political terms to introduce a new candidate now would be foolish and they know that. It would be a shot in both feet, they would be in a weak position."

Chairwoman of St Albans Conservatives Seema Kennedy, who resigned her position last night, called a meeting to vote on whether Mrs Main should be able to stand in the next general election. The association's 300 members were asked to vote either against or in favour of Anne Main's de-selection, with, according to the national newspaper reports, 20 opting to expel her.

Among her opponents were Mrs Kennedy's deputies Matthew Peck and Mary Zambra.