THE race to be the Labour candidate for the St Helens North constituency will intensify ahead of voting by local party members this weekend.
As previously reported, Conor McGinn, who has left the Labour party and is currently sitting as an independent MP, will be stepping down at the next General Election – expected to take place in 2024.
On the shortlist of candidates are St Helens Council leader David Baines, Parr Councillor Bisi Osundeko and Luke Joseph, a senior parliamentary assistant to Marie Rimmer MP.
The St Helens North seat is traditionally a Labour stronghold and the victor in the battle to be the party's candidate would be heavily fancied to secure a seat in parliament at the next general election, which is expected to take place next year.
Cllr Baines, who as council leader has the highest profile of the three, is believed to have spent the summer months deliberating over whether to seek election as the St Helens North candidate.
If he was to secure the candidacy it could mean that Labour locally will look to find a new council leader in the months before the next general election.
The three candidates for St Helens North have been making their pitches to hundreds of Labour members in the constituency.
It is understood hustings involving the candidates and Labour members will take place this Saturday ahead of the vote.
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