Exclusive: The eight names on Labour’s longlist for Copeland by-election

A former Labour MP and a series of local councillors and activists have been named on the longlist to be the party’s candidate in the Copeland by-election.

Four men and four women, including Thomas Docherty, who represented Dunfermline and West Fife for a single term, and Rachel Holliday, founder of a hostel for the homeless, made it through after the deadline for applications closed on Monday, LabourList understands.

Local members will choose their candidate to defend outgoing MP Jamie Reed’s 2,564 majority at the final hustings on Thursday 19 January.

The longlist, which has not been published, also includes Gillian Troughton, a Cumbria county councillor who lives in the constituency, and Graham Kendall, a councillor in Keswick in the Lake District.

A party spokesman declined to comment tonight. The longlist is shown below.

Barbara Cannon – Allerdale borough councillor who lives in Workington.

Tricia Clarke – CWU activist who took part in the Labour selection for Carlisle before the 2010 election.

Thomas Docherty – former Dunfermline and West Fife MP who grew up in Whitehaven.

Rachel Holliday –  founder of Calderwood House hostel and named Cumbria Woman of the Year 2015.

Graham Kendall – Keswick councillor and advisor to NHS Partners Network.

Tim Knowles – Cumbria county councillor who lives in Frizington.

David Southward – Cumbria county councillor who lives in Beckermet and holds the economic development portfolio.

Gillian Troughton – Cumbria county councillor who lives in Whitehaven.