Applications close in Richmond Park as Labour set to pick candidate on Saturday

Labour has moved to deliver a swift selection for the Richmond Park by-election after closing the window for applications today.

Activists who wanted to be Labour’s candidate had until 10am to submit their application. The rest of the timetable for the west London constituency selection is now known and it can be confirmed that people who make it on to the longlist will be interviewed by the Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) on Wednesday before the candidate is chosen at a final hustings on Saturday.

Labour came third in Richmond Park in the 2015 general election, with 12 per cent of the vote. The Lib Dems won 19.3 per cent of the vote to Goldsmith’s 58.2 per cent. The seat was held by the Lib Dems until 2010.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems have confirmed that their candidate will be Sarah Olney, a relatively unknown figure. There had been speculation that a big name-  such as Sir Vince Cable, the former Business Secretary who represented the neighbouring Twickenham seat – might have been parachuted in to contest the election.

The selection process comes after a call from senior Labour figures on LabourList last week to not field a candidate in the election, for fear of splitting the anti-Goldsmith vote. The party decided instead to continue with the usual process and put forward a Labour candidate.

Richmond’s local Labour party has more than 1,600 members and backed Owen Smith in the recent leadership race.

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]