Tooting by-election: runners and riders

Longlisted candidates for the Tooting by-election selection will today be interviewed by the NEC’s selection panel, and a shortlist is expected this afternoon ahead of Saturday’s Tooting Constituency Labour Party (CLP) selection meeting.

Here are some of the candidates who could make it to the all-member vote this weekend, ahead of the June polling day:

Martin Smith

Martin lived in the area for 10 years, and his children attended local schools. He works as a national organiser for the GMB, who are supporting his candidacy. He chaired Balham Skills Exchange and remains a director of a local business. Likely to be one of the favourites. You can see his website here.

Simon Hogg

Simon has lived in Tooting for 15 years and is a local councillor, serving as deputy leader of Wandsworth Council’s Labour group. He works with the homeless charity Shelter and says that housing is his main political passion. Tipped as a favourite. You can see his website here.

Rosena Allin-Khan

Rosena was born and raised in Tooting, and continues to live in the area, where she is also a councillor, having served as deputy leader of the Labour group on Wandsworth Council. She works as an A&E specialist doctor in the local St. George’s Hospital. She is thought to be in with a good chance. You can see her website here.

Emily Brothers

Emily stood for Labour in Sutton and Cheam last year, becoming Labour’s first ever transgender candidate and almost doubling the party’s number of votes. A long-time disability rights campaigner – she herself is blind – she has worked at the Disabilty Rights Commission and the Human Rights Commission. You can see her website here.

Fleur Anderson

Fleur has lived in Tooting for 19 years and has been a councillor since 2014 – winning a seat that the Tories had held since 1986. She is governor at a local schools that her children attended, played a role in a local campaign to save Tooting pub The Wheatsheaf, and works as head of campaigns at WaterAid. You can see her website here.

Christian Wolmar

Christian was a candidate in the Labour selection for London Mayor last year, and exceeded expectations with a fifth placed finish. An avid transport campaigner and journalist, the name recognition from his Mayoral bid may help him. You can see his website here.

Jasvir Singh

Jasvir has lived in South London for the last 10 years, his place of worship is in Tooting, and he works as a family law barrister. He is also the chair of two London-based charities that work on community cohesion issues. You can see his website here.