DAVID Baines will be Labour’s candidate for St Helens North at the next general election.
The council leader secured the vote of local Labour party members at St Helens Town Hall on Saturday.
An earlier hustings event for party members had given the candidates the chance to the state their cases.
Cllr Baines, who grew up in Haydock and now represents the Windle ward, won the race ahead of Parr Councillor Bisi Osundeko and Luke Joseph, a senior parliamentary assistant to Marie Rimmer MP.
Cllr Baines, who has been council leader since 2019, had been clear favourite since making a decision to run over the summer.
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.
Cllr Baines will be expected to hold the reins at the town hall well into next year, but when he does stand aside from his council role it will set up an intriguing battle for the leadership.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article