Labour is preparing for an early byelection in Norwich North, with the poll likely to be held before the summer recess. Officials suggested that the writ for the byelection will be moved today with the poll held on July 23.
The byelection was triggered by the resignation of Ian Gibson who decided to step down after he was banned from re-election by the Labour Party’s ‘star chamber’.
Gibson came under fire after he was revealed to have claimed second home expenses for a flat occupied by his daughter. He claimed £80,000 for the flat, allowing his daughter and her partner to live there rent-free.
In a recent interview with BBC2’s Newsnight, Gibson suggested that he would be prepared to stand as an independent candidate if supporters asked him to. A number of local party activists were known to be angered by the party’s treatment of Gibson.
Labour currently holds a majority of 5,459 over the Conservatives, who are confident that they can win the seat in the current political. A recent ICM poll in the constituency put the Tories on 34 per cent, a 4 per cent lead over Labour.
Labour has also now named its candidate for the Glasgow North East byelection, prompted by the resignation of Michael Martin as Commons Speaker. William Bain,36, a law academic, has been selected as the candidate.
He said: “People across the constituency are angry at the SNP’s broken promises and lack of action to help people through the recession.
“The SNP government have abandoned the people of Glasgow North East. I pledge to local people that I’ll stand up for them and I’ll fight everyday for a better deal for Glasgow North East.”
He added: “I’d like to thank Michael Martin for his years of service to Glasgow and the whole country.
“Michael worked hard for the people of this constituency throughout his 30 years in parliament. It would be an honour to follow him as the local MP.”
The party will be defending a 10,134 majority but by convention the main parties, with the exception of the SNP, did not stand against the Speaker at the last election.
The SNP, who won the neighbouring constituency of Glasgow East last summer, are the frontrunners to take the seat.
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