Ex-Minister On Labour Shortlist For Stalybridge And Hyde
The shortlist has been revealed in the battle to be the Labour candidate in Stalybridge and Hyde at the general election. There are five contenders on it, including the surprise name of former Immigration Minister Barbara Roche.
The others in the running are Longdendale Councillor Jonny Reynolds, union veteran Peter Wheeler, who is a member of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee, local doctor and chair of NHS Tameside and Glossop Kailash Chand, and director of the Yes Minister think tank, Floyd Millen.
Ms Roche spent 13 years as MP for the north London seat of Hornsey and Wood Green. She suffered a shock defeat at the 2005 election, when Lynne Featherstone of the Liberal Democrats successfully overturned her majority of 10,614.
During a high-profile spell at the Home Office between 1999 and 2001, Ms Roche faced criticism from the left for her perceived tough stance on asylum seekers. Yet she also favoured relaxing some immigration controls to make it easier for skilled migrants to enter the UK for work. She left the Government in 2003.
In recent months Ms Roche has tried unsuccessfully to secure the Labour nomination in several other constituencies, including Wigan. She, Dr Chand and Dr Millen appear to be the outsiders in the Stalybridge and Hyde contest, with Cllr Reynolds and Mr Wheeler the favourites to win.
Cllr Reynolds is believed to be the preferred choice of party bosses, including outgoing MP James Purnell, for whom he used to work as an aide. However, Mr Wheeler has support from his Unite union, and union backing has proved decisive in similar contests elsewhere in the country.
The vacancy arose following Mr Purnell’s decision to stand down at the election. He had a majority of 8,348 over the Conservatives in 2005, making Stalybridge and Hyde a relatively safe Labour seat.
The constituency includes Mossley, as well as Stalybridge, Hyde, Hollingworth and Mottram-in-Longdendale.
Earlier articles about the contest from Saddleworth News can be viewed here and here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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