Labour members will choose candidate for Jo Cox’s seat within a fortnight

The Labour Party has published the timetable for the selection of a candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election, following the death of the constituency’s MP, Jo Cox.

Labour officials yesterday sent an e-mail to members informing them that applications to be the candidate for Batley and Spen must be submitted by 12pm Friday 16 September. Interviews with chosen candidates will then be held in London on Monday 19 September. The selection process will culminate in the consistency hustings on Friday 23 September, when local members will choose a candidate.

Jo Cox, a hugely admired campaigner, was killed in her constituency on 16 June 2016, one week before the EU referendum. Cox became an MP in May 2015, increasing Labour’s majority in the constituency.

Only those who have been a member of the Labour Party for the 12 months prior to the 16th June 2016 will be eligible to apply.

Many parties, including the Conservatives, the Greens, UKIP and the Lib Dems, will not be fielding a candidate in a mark of respect to Cox. UKIP member, Waqas Ali Khan, will stand as an independent. Khan stood as the UKIP candidate for Shipley in 2015. Candidates will also be fielded from far-right nationalist parties Liberty GB and English Democrats.