Walsall Labour Party about to publish short list

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Walsall Labour Party about to publish short list
Adam Lumley The YamYam 28 Feb 10
Following the decision by Walsall South MP, the Right Honourable Bruce George, to stand down at the next general election, nearly 40 prospective candidates have indicated an interest in representing one of the safest Labour parliamentary seats in the West Midlands.

The Labour Party National Executive Committee has imposed a “women only” shortlist on local activists and with a general election possibly weeks away, fears have been expressed that an influential party member will be parachuted into Walsall who will serve Labour interests in Westminster rather than the voters of Walsall.

The short list will be announced on Monday (1 March) and Labour Party members in Walsall South will be given a postal vote to decide who will stand as a replacement for Mr George. An announcement is expected on 17 March. Councillor Tim Oliver, Labour group leader in Walsall, said: “The level of interest and the quality of the prospective candidates clearly reflects the strength of support the party has in the constituency which is a testament to the work of Bruce George. 

“In Walsall we face pressing problems, many created by 11 years of misrule by the Conservative run council. 

“With upcoming local and general elections we have a responsibility to choose Walsall’s South’s next Labour MP, who can represent the local community and unite the party to tackle the challenges we face, both in the council chamber and in the House of Commons.”

Speculation is already rife as to who will appear on the short list and TheYamYam has been made aware of at least five women who are likely for consideration. At this stage, the favourite would appear to be Neena Gill, a former Labour MEP for the West Midlands who has recently returned from Brussels. Others in the frame are Seema Malhotra, former national chair of the Fabian Society and Valarie Vaz, broadcaster and sister of Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East. Mr Vaz has been dogged by political scandal throughout his career and his sister has found it difficult in achieving selection in a number of constituencies. Former Birmingham councillor Yvonne Mosquito, who was unsuccessful in her attempt to replace Clare Short in Ladywood and unsuccessful West Midlands MEP candidate and former Evesham South councillor, Susan Hayman might also be in the running.

It is not known at this stage if any of the six Labour women councillors in Walsall have expressed an interest in standing for selection and former councillor Rose Burley, long time agent for Bruce George, is standing in the Bentley and Darlaston North ward during local elections in May.

The imposition of women only short lists is an attempt by Labour’s National Executive Committee to redress the imbalance in the number of Labour women MPs in the House of Commons. The initiative is championed by Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party and member of the NEC. However, party policy was relaxed in Erdington, when Ms Harman’s husband, Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of the Unite union, was selected on Friday to stand as an MP for the Birmingham constituency.

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YamYam links 27 Feb 10 Labour veteran Bruce George taken to hospital

B’ham Post 19 Feb 10 Labour imposes women-only shortlist for Walsall South candidates
YamYam links 18 Feb 10 Bruce George MP to stand down
Express & Star 18 Feb 10 Bruce George MP to stand down
B’ham Post 18 Feb 10 Walsall MP Bruce George to stand down after struggling with internet
Walsall Advertiser 18 Feb 10 Walsall MP stands down after 36 years
BBC News 18 Feb 10 Walsall South MP Bruce George to stand down
Stirrer 18 Feb 10 Bruce George to step down Discussion forum
Walsall Advertiser 28 May 09 "I've got nothing to hide over expenses"
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