Debbie Abrahams selected to stand in Oldham East

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

UPDATE: Debbie has now released the following video to introduce herself:

Debbie Abrahams has been selected as Labour’s candidate to contest the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election. Local members were able to choose from a shortlist of three candidates, with Debbie coming out on top.

Debbie was the Labour candidate for Colne Valley at the 2010 general election where she finished third. She has a background in health and currently conducts Public Health work at the University of Liverpool. She is recognised as a world expert in Health Impact Assessment. She is also the former chair of Rochdale PCT.

Labour are the favourites to retain the seat with the bookies, and it will be interesting to see how Abrahams performs over the coming weeks. Certainly it will be crucial to engage local members and voters – many of whom will have been disapointed to lose their previous MP Phil Woolas – and begin building for a by election that local Lib Dems have been preparing for months to fight.

All of us at LabourList wish Debbie the best of luck with the campaign. We’ll be in Oldham in the New Year to campaign and report on the by-election – and hopefully catch up with Debbie too.