Selection timetable confirmed for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough by-election

Labour has confirmed the timetable for selecting a by-election candidate for the vacant Sheffield seat following the death of Harry Harpham.

However, no date has yet been decided for polling day, with some speculation that it could be held back to coincide with the local elections on 5th May.

The application process for candidates to put themselves forward for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough is now open, and will close at noon Wednesday February 24. Longlisted candidates will then be called to London for interviews by the three-person NEC selection panel the following Monday February 29.

From there, the NEC panel will draw up a shortlist, and candidates will go forward for a selection meeting of Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough CLP on Wednesday, March 2nd.

It is up to the Labour Party to move the writ for the by-election, deciding when the election will be. Some in the party want the election sooner rather than later, arguing this would nip any potential UKIP threat in the bud, while others believe holding it on the same day as the city’s local elections would be better for turnout.

There is pressure from some quarters for the NEC to ensure that the shortlist is all women, even if it not officially designated as an all-woman shortlist (AWS). Since 2010, more than twice as many of Labour’s by-election candidates have been men than women. Yet, with several prominent local men expected to put themselves forward, there could be some pushback against the idea.

Members voting in March’s selection meeting will have to have joined Labour at least six months ago, meaning that no one who has signed up since Corbyn’s victory in September will be able to cast a ballot. This may not make a big difference, with membership in Brightside understood not to have risen by as much as in neighbouring Sheffield Hallam.

We’ll be running a list of possible runners and riders in the next few days. If you have a tip off, please get in touch: [email protected]