Michael Edwards was selected yesterday as PPC for South Derbyshire. He's hardworking and a very active campaigner - it gives us the best chance of holding this very marginal seat. Congratulations to Mike.

Here's Labour lists for 2009 European Elections.

I note that both the Streathem (London) and Hull East selections made it onto the Home page, but that Nottingham South remained on Blogs.

I further note that the first two selected men, the later a women.

Interesting.

I was reading the blog post on the Nottingham South selection the other day - do the Nottingham South bloggers realise what a sad bunch they are? All their talk about the parliamentary section is who lives where. Within a year of being elected most women MPs with young families end up in London. That’s where theirs will be too. Makes for an easier career.

With the starting pistol having been fired in the race to become Alan Simpson's successor, I offer a few observations on the process and the early candidates.

With Labour having a reasonable lead in the opinion polls recently it is hardly surprising that speculation has increased on the prospect of an early election.

Gerry Ryan won the nomination tonight for Croydon Central as the Labour Co-operative candidate, with the participation of over half the members.

Jayne Innes was selected on the first round today as Labour's PPC for Nuneaton; replacing Bill Olner.

Jayne stood in Birmingham Yardley in 2005 and did amazingly well given the implosion of Rover. Nuneaton should be a better prospect.