Kensington hit the headlines in October when Tony Benn, who lives in the area, announced he would put his name forward as a prospective candidate. But he withdrew when it became clear that there would be no immediate general election.

Kensington will be a new seat made up of parts of Labour-held Regents Park and Kensington North constituency and of Conservative-held Kensington and Chelsea. North Kensington's current MP, Karen Buck, who is widely respected in the Borough for her work on behalf of local organisations and individual constituents, said `Sam will be an outstanding candidate and representative for this area, long neglected by Kensington & Chelsea Council. North Kensington deserves not just a fighter, but someone rooted in the local community.'

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said `I have known Sam a long time - he is the right candidate to fight Tory policies that would entrench privilege at the expense of ordinary Londoners. Kensington
needs a strong Labour voice.'

At the selection conference Sam Gurney endorsed Labour's social policies and increased spending on health and education. But he stressed that much more needed to be done to reduce inequalities and especially to build more social and affordable housing in Kensington.

He said `I'm delighted to have been selected to stand for the Labour Party in Kensington at the next general election. Only Labour has the polices that will continue to improve people's lives in this area and I'm looking forward to showing the Tories that they have a real fight on their hands.'

On Saturday 8 December Kensington Labour Party will hold a `Meet the Candidates' street stall in St Helen's Gardens, W10, where Sam will join Labour's candidate for the West Central constitutency in next May's GLA elections, Murad Qureshi, in talking to local residents.

Contact:
Sam Gurney on 07792492619
email sam.gurney@googlemail.com
Lee Jameson, Secretary, Kensington Constituency Labour Party on 07974101613
email kensingtonclp@yahoo.co.uk