LABOUR plans to recruit hundreds of non-members to stand as MPs will mean “bypassing the talent in our movement,” the Unite union has warned.

The party is reportedly allowing non-members to take part in its future candidates programme as part of a change to election strategy under Sir Keir Starmer. 

On Monday, the Times reported that party rules have been changed to ​​allow anyone, no matter how long they have been a member, to take part in the programme, with Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir’s former chief of staff, understood to be in charge of the programme as well as the party’s election strategy. 

The newspaper quoted a party source saying that the thinking was to improve the “calibre” of candidates and take selections away from the party’s left. 

The move mirrors efforts taken by David Cameron as leader of the Tories while in opposition. 

Unite, the party’s biggest affiliate and biggest donor, has warned that Labour’s plans to recruit non-members to be MPs could potentially bypass the talent in the labour movement, describing the move as insulting. 

In a statement posted on social media, the union said: “It is depressing that the latest offering from the Labour Party is a plan to imitate the Tories’ candidate selection model. 

“Our party is packed with talented people who have dedicated themselves to their party, their union or public service. These should be our A-list candidates and we should be proud to nurture them to stand for Labour.”

Unite said it makes efforts, alongside other unions, to encourage working people to run for office. 

The union added: “The briefing around the ‘calibre’ of the latest intake of Labour MPs is disrespectful snobbery towards people who give their all for Labour. 

“If the party carries on alienating and offending members, it will be hard to find anyone inspired to stand for office as a Labour MP.”

Matt Zarb-Cousin, Jeremy Corbyn’s former spokesman, said the best way to achieve a more representative party would be through open selections, while Socialist Action said the current leadership has given the green light to Blairites to revive efforts to turn Labour into an openly corporatist party.

Former Labour MP and independent Hartlepool by-election candidate Thelma Walker said the move would drive more voters towards groups such as the Northern Independence Party. 

The Labour Party was approached for comment.