[kettle]

I thought this had already been confirmed, but Kim Leadbeater (murdered MP Jo Cox's sister) has been selected for this. Interesting pick.

She apparently hasn't been a party member for 12 months, as is required to stand as an MP, but this has not excluded her for some reason (despite party rules). Being Jo Cox's sister I'm sure is no coincidence to her being selected. I wonder if Labour are hoping that her sister's murder will soften opposition to her, it's hard not to see the cynicism in this on both sides.

[The Weeping Angel]

I thought this had already been confirmed, but Kim Leadbeater (murdered MP Jo Cox's sister) has been selected for this. Interesting pick.

She apparently hasn't been a party member for 12 months, as is required to stand as an MP, but this has not excluded her for some reason (despite party rules). Being Jo Cox's sister I'm sure is no coincidence to her being selected. I wonder if Labour are hoping that her sister's murder will soften opposition to her, it's hard not to see the cynicism in this on both sides.

I'm going to phrase this in the politest possible way, bog off.

[Tubby Isaacs]

"Not been a member long enough" only really flies if there are disgruntled people prepared to make an issue of it.

The Tories wouldn't give a rat's arse if they wanted to choose somebody who hadn't been a member long enough. That would be turned into a virtue.

I'd be worried about her political inexperience but she seems to have impressed the local party.

[Boiler]

I thought this had already been confirmed, but Kim Leadbeater (murdered MP Jo Cox's sister) has been selected for this. Interesting pick.

She apparently hasn't been a party member for 12 months, as is required to stand as an MP

Forgive me Kettle, but I can't see the party making *that* fundamental an error.

Not having the party rulebook to hand (despite being a party member myself) - does this twelve month thing apply at the time of the election? Which, of course, has not been called yet?

Maybe a longer-standing member here can clarify? TWA? Malc?

[Andy McDandy]

Labour choose candidate likely to resonate with local people.

The bastards. Can't have that.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Most likely explanation is that the rule can be waived if the local party/NEC are happy.

[The Weeping Angel]

I thought this had already been confirmed, but Kim Leadbeater (murdered MP Jo Cox's sister) has been selected for this. Interesting pick.

She apparently hasn't been a party member for 12 months, as is required to stand as an MP

Forgive me Kettle, but I can't see the party making *that* fundamental an error.

Not having the party rulebook to hand (despite being a party member myself) - does this twelve month thing apply at the time of the election? Which, of course, has not been called yet?

Maybe a longer-standing member here can clarify? TWA? Malc?

Based in what I've read the rule book does state it has to be 12 months but exceptions can be made in Kim Leadbeater's case she was a member but left when she took on her role with the Jo Cox Foundation.

[kettle]

Be interesting why an exception was made, and whether the CLP were consulted. Otherwise it'd look like two MP elects were dropped on by election seats on the trot by the party HQ.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Unfortunate turn of phrase. Usually candidates are dropped on the Trots.

Yes, 12 months, but the Labour Party is a club and can modify its rules when it pleases, and often has on this point. It does tend to vary, for often obscure reasons.

[Youngian]

Labour choose candidate likely to resonate with local people.

The bastards. Can't have that.

Local people aren’t Labour members, who do they think they are? Laura Pidcock denied a chance yet again for her brilliance to shine once more.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

C'mon. You know it's the number of Labour members, not voters, that decides an election...

[Malcolm Armsteen]

From that incredibly obscure source, The Guardian:

Leadbeater was selected by more than 80% of Labour members over Hugh Goulbourne, a lawyer from Huddersfield, and Hasnain Khan, a medical student from Sheffield University. She was endorsed by Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, as well as Shabir Pandor, the leader of the local Kirklees council.

In choosing her as its candidate, Batley and Spen Labour party waived the normal rules, which usually demand candidates are a member for at least a year before standing for office.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed earlier this week that Leadbeater has only just joined the party, though she was apparently a member before her sister’s murder. She took a step back from party politics when she took on a role at the Jo Cox foundation, set up in her sister’s memory.

So, not parachuted in, not a new member (previous membership allowed to lapse to work for a charity) and selected by a huge majority of local members. Endorsed by Andy Burnham.

Want to take anything back, Ketel?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Be interesting why an exception was made, and whether the CLP were consulted. Otherwise it'd look like two MP elects were dropped on by election seats on the trot by the party HQ.

That should be 'MPs-elect', by the way. And 'by-election'. And arguably 'Party HQ'. Oh, and a question mark after the first sentence.

You're welcome.

[davidjay]

Be interesting why an exception was made, and whether the CLP were consulted. Otherwise it'd look like two MP elects were dropped on by election seats on the trot by the party HQ.

That should be 'MPs-elect', by the way. And 'by-election'. And arguably 'Party HQ'. Oh, and a question mark after the first sentence.

You're welcome.

Is there any point? You'll never change their minds on anything.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Yes. Bad writing illustrates bad thinking.

See also the fisking of this.

[kettle]

Want to take anything back, Ketel?

Yes. Bad writing illustrates bad thinking.

See also the fisking of this.

Were I going to spend far more time than is reasonable correcting spelling and making such a big song and dance of it, I would make sure not to make such a careless mistake.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Well, no.

‘Ketel’ was a reference to the character in the Icelandic sagas, Ketel (or Kettil or Caittill) Flatnose. Not the brightest Norseman.

‘Fisking’ is the refutation of a series of statements one by one, named after the journalist Robert Fisk.

NABAYTYA

[Arrowhead]

The selection of Leadbetter seems to have annoyed the Corbynites, so she’s off to a good start I suppose.

If she secures the seat for Labour at the by-election, then I doubt many of us are going to be talking about her membership history anyway.

[kettle]

Well, no.

‘Ketel’ was a reference to the character in the Icelandic sagas, Ketel (or Kettil or Caittill) Flatnose. Not the brightest Norseman.

‘Fisking’ is the refutation of a series of statements one by one, named after the journalist Robert Fisk.

NABAYTYA

Nice one.

The selection of Leadbetter seems to have annoyed the Corbynites, so she’s off to a good start I suppose.

If she secures the seat for Labour at the by-election, then I doubt many of us are going to be talking about her membership history anyway.

Annoying Corbynites isn't going to win an election. He's not been the leader for over a year, he's not even a member of the PLP, and the left aren't in power any more in the NEC. The left is gone from the party, largely. This is just screaming at shadows at this point.

If she loses, a lot of questions need to be asked of why she was allowed to ignore party procedure. Must've really raised the heckles of many people who've worked in the party for years to be passed over for someone outside of it.

[Tubby Isaacs]

She's been running a charity set up in memory of an assassinated Labour MP. Is that enough of a connection with Labour?

I've no idea if she's any good or not.