Labour are rushing through the selection process to find a candidate for the upcoming Tooting by-election, with a view to having a new MP in place within a month. Newly-elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan has stepped down as MP for the South London seat after 10 years, triggering a by-election in the Labour-held marginal.
Sources over the weekend said that the party was looking to move the by-election writ today, with June 9 thought to be the preferred polling day.
The selection will get into full swing today, with hopefuls having to put their name forward by 10am tomorrow morning, and a all-member meeting taking place on Saturday to ensure a candidate will be in place over the weekend.
The timetable for the selection is:
Deadline for candidate applications: 10am on Tuesday 10 May
Interviews with NEC selection panel in central London: Wednesday 11 May
Shortlisted candidates’ hustings and selection meeting with Tooting CLP: Saturday morning 14 May
Although Labour has held the seat since its inception in 1974, changing demographics have made it much more marginal than it once was, with Khan’s majority under 3,000 in both of the last two elections. The party has received advice not to have polling day on the same date as June 23’s EU referendum, and is keen to have it as soon as possible.
It is not yet known how much energy other parties will put into the by-election, but Respect’s George Galloway, who came seventh in the London Mayor contest with just 1.4 per cent of the vote, has already expressed an interest in running.
If you are putting yourself forward for the selection, or have any tips about the race, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
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