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Gould in fresh row as Erith vote enters final day
Paul Waugh and Andrew Gilligan15 May 2009
The selection battle for one of Labour's safest London seats entered its final day today amid fresh controversy.
The contest for Erith and Thamesmead, triggered by the decision of Leftwinger John Austin to stand down at the next election, has been delayed after interference with postal votes prompted a re-run of the race earlier this year.
A Labour official said an inquiry into ballot tampering — which has found no evidence of any of the candidates' involvement — would continue after the selection vote to be held in secrecy at a church hall in Erith tomorrow.
The official also commented on claims candidate Georgia Gould, the 22-year-old daughter of Tony Blair's former pollster Lord Gould, was getting an unfair advantage. Lord Gould recently raised eyebrows at Labour HQ at an election strategy meeting, attended by Cabinet minister Douglas Alexander, when he said Ms Gould would make an excellent candidate.
Mr Alexander, the election co-ordinator, joked: “I'm not sure you should be saying that here, Philip.” Howard Dawber, the Labour Parliamentary candidate in a neighbouring seat, came under fire when he appeared to back Ms Gould in a local newspaper.
To head off accusations of bias, the party has agreed to a shortlist of eight, including local candidate Teresa Pearce, former MP Melanie Johnson and charity worker Emily Bird. Even by Labour standards, the contest for Erith and Thamesmead is particularly bitter. Labour's London region triggered the first criticism by taking control of the race from the local party.
The seat, with a notional majority of nearly 10,000, is one of the party's few safe seats. Supporters of Ms Gould, who would become the second youngest woman MP in history if she wins, say she has been subjected to negative campaigning from Leftwingers.
A Labour official said: “It is up to the members of Erith and Thamesmead to decide their Labour candidate. It's not up to other Parliamentary candidates, or the regional party.” The official also stressed that Lord Gould's remarks had no bearing on the contest and were not intended as such.
Reader views (7)
Erith and Thamesmead....and this is a safe labour constituency ! Well do these Erith dwellers read news papers ? If so do they understand what labour is ?
I think I have the answer : obviously not !
- Edouard. B, Toulouse, France, 18/05/2009 07:28
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Yes , let's keep it all in the Family , like the Mafia
- J B Blackett, Hendon, 15/05/2009 16:04
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I'm sure her daddy will teach heer all the trieks of the trade. So goodbye Labour from another seat. Boohoo. NOT.
- .Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 15/05/2009 15:51
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What qualifies her to be the local MP ? Does she live and work in the area ? How much experience of the 'real world' does she have ? Or is she just another upper middleclass toff going through a 'wannabee an MP' phase with a helpful daddy?
- Doug Watt, london e14, 15/05/2009 15:44
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I hope that the constituency has worked out that anyone the central party favours, should be voted down as a matter of principle. The best hope for the future is a new MP with no ties or connections to the curent mob. Send the party and the electorate the right message!
- Nigel, London, 15/05/2009 13:59
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i hope someone has told her that she won't get elected for parliament, and will be aged 42 before labour regains any credibility, if indeed it ever does.
- Stephen, london, uk, 15/05/2009 13:25
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I hope someone has told her what she can filch, if she joins this exclusive club.
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK, 15/05/2009 11:08
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