Ann Clwyd selected as candidate for Cynon Valley

Ann Clwyd has been selected as the Labour candidate for Cynon Valley.

Clwyd announced she was stepping down as MP earlier in the year, after serving as the MP for 30 years .

However, in June a disagreement between members of the Cynon Valley CLP and Labour Party HQ emerged. The latter said an All-Women Shortlist should be used to choose the next candidate, much to the unhappiness of the former. Clwyd backed the CLP’s right to not have an All-Women Shortlist (AWS) and eventually entered the race after the central party refused to overturn the AWS decision.

Clwyd competed against three other women candidates: Katie Antippas, a PCS union official; Sue Pickering, a councillor in Rhondda Cynon Taf councillor; and Aysha Raza, a scientist and Labour councillor in Ealing.

There are two other selections taking place – in Holborn and St Pancras and Merthyr – so watch this space for further announcements.

Congratulations to Ann Clwyd and commiserations to the other 3 candidates.