Two councillors and a doctor have been shortlisted in the Labour selection race for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. Jayne Dunn, Jayne Lim and Gill Furniss will go into tomorrow’s selection meeting, where Labour members in the constituency will vote for a candidate for the upcoming by-election.
The shortlist was chosen following interviews with a three-person NEC panel yesterday. All of the candidates to make the shortlist are women, although the selection was not designated as an official all-woman shortlist (AWS). There has been concern in some quarters over the number of women selected as Labour candidates in by-elections: more than twice as many men have been selected as women in by-elections over the past six years.
No date has yet been set for the by-election, which was caused by the passing of Harry Harpham – whose widow, Gill Furniss, is in the running to succeed him. There is some speculation that polling day could be delayed until May, to coincide with local elections.
Jayne Dunn and Gill Furniss are both councillors in Sheffield, with Dunn the Cabinet member responsible for housing on the council. Jayne Lim, meanwhile, is a junior doctor and health economist.
So it's official! I'm standing for #Sheffield #Brightside&Hillsborough .I'm Sheffield born & bred, & I want to give a real voice to real ppl
— Jayne Dunn (@JaynePDunn) February 29, 2016
Honour to be shortlisted for Sheffield B&H. Cameron putting local people at risk with #juniordoctorscontract. Sheffield deserves better.
— Dr Jayne Lim (@drjaynelim) February 29, 2016
So. Seems to be out there. Delighted to say I'm shortlisted to be our @UKLabour candidate & (hopefully!) MP. Thank you all for the support.
— Gill Furniss MP (@GillFurnissMP) February 29, 2016
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