Ipswich Constituency Labour Party is the first in the East of England, and one of the first in the country to start the process of selecting its candidate for the next General Election. It is amongst a number of marginal seats chosen by the NEC for early selection, using a new self nomination procedure. Longlisting and shortlisting was undertaken by a ten member Selection Committee, five men and five women selected to reflect the demographics of the constituency.
Following a meeting of the Selection committee to shortlist candidates yesterday evening a shortlist of four candidates was agreed: Two local candidates and two from outside Ipswich. The two local candidates are Ipswich Borough Council Leader, David Ellesmere, and Deputy Leader, Neil MacDonald. They are joined on the shortlist by Jeremy Miles who contested Beaconsfield in 2010 and Frances Rehal, Manager of Millmead Children's Centre in Thanet. The shortlist was drawn from 22 applicants.
The Selection Committee was pleased to be able to present a strong shortlist to Party members who will meet on 18th September to select their chosen candidate at a Hustings Meeting, with postal votes available to those members unable to attend.
There were two noticeable local absentees from the shortlist. Former MP, Chris Mole announced at the start of the process that he would not be seeking selection as candidate, and County & Borough Councillor Bryony Rudkin also surprised some local members when she decided not to apply.
John Cook is Procedures secretary for Ipswich CLP
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