Among tonight’s selection meetings is Scunthorpe (Labour majority 3,134). It’s a key target seat, and I can report that the shortlist includes:
- Cllr Holly Mumby-Croft (pictured, right): A North Lincolnshire councillor and town councillor in Broughton, just over the constituency border in Brigg and Goole, she also serves as a school governor. Mumby-Croft has in the past campaigned against local wind farm development plans, and earlier this year used council scrutiny powers to expose failings on the part of the local health trust.
- Lia Nici-Townend: The Executive Producer of Estuary TV, Grimsby’s community television company, Nici-Townend is a former Parish Councillor in Laceby, North East Lincolnshire. She was shortlisted in Grimsby a few days ago.
Another seat selecting tonight is Birmingham Selly Oak (Labour majority 8,447). The shortlist there is:
- Andrew Browning: Browning grew up in Birmingham, and is the founder of Greater Thought – a startup which is developing software intended to save time online. Formerly employed by Boston Consulting Group, a business consultancy, he spent 18 months during the coalition years on secondment to the Cabinet Office’s Implementation Unit.
- Cllr Sophie Shrubsole: A Tonbridge and Malling Borough councillor, where she serves as Cabinet Member for Housing, Shrubsole is Director of Operations at the Westminster Business Council and runs her own company offering First World War battlefield tours. She is a graduate of the University of Birmingham.
There have been a number of changes to various lists in recent days, and we know that CCHQ is in some places adding candidates at the last minute, so it’s possible there might be third names presented to local Party members tonight. We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything.