22-year-old chosen as Labour’s candidate for Nuneaton

A fresh-faced politician in line to become the Midlands’youngest-ever woman MP – after beating age discrimination campaigner Miriam O’Reilly to the post.



Vicky Fowler, aged 22, has been chosen as Labour’s candidate for Nuneaton at the next general election.

Miriam, who, at 56-years-old, is more than twice as old as Vicky – won an age discrimination case against the BBC in 2009.

The former BBC Countryfile presenter took the corporation to tribunal after they axed her from the programme when she was 51 and was considered too old.

She now runs her own charity, Women’s Equality Network.

But Vicky does not believe that she won because of her youth.

“In any race, someone has to win – and lose – and I wish Miriam well in the future,” she said.

The campaigner, from London, said: “The majority of the Nuneaton Constituency Labour Party wanted a candidate who was born and bred in Nuneaton and I respect that decision.

“I wish Vicky all the very best for 2015. Nuneaton should be Labour.”

Vicky is no political novice, having been a councillor in Nuneaton since she was 20.

“I may be young – but I know I can do the job,” she said.

Vicky, chosen from an all-women short list, works as a personal tutor at King Edward VI sixth form college in Nuneaton where she attended before studying politics at Warwick University.

Far too young, and selected from an all woman short-list! These artificial single sex short lists ought be outlawed; we need the best person regardless of sex.

we need the best person regardless of sex.

...or age!

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls backs Vicky Fowler's bid to become Nuneaton's next MP



The full weight of the Labour Party is to be put behind Vicky Fowler’s bid to become Nuneaton’ s next MP.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls gave her his support with a visit to an engineering company in the town today - and other senior colleagues, including leader Ed Milliband, will be following in his footsteps.

“Success in next year’s General Election depends on winning marginal seats such as Nuneaton and there will be a succession of Labour members at top Ministerial level who will be coming to the town to encourage people to vote for Vicky,” said a regional office spokesman.

Since being nominated as Parliamentary candidate last summer, the 23-year-old former Higham Lane and King Edward VI College student has been at the spearhead of a determined local campaign, aimed at winning back a seat Labour lost to the Tories in 2010.

She was endorsed by Mr Balls - who said: “Vicky will make a great MP” - as she accompanied him, on a tour of Nuneaton Precisions, based on the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate.

I'm not sure if having Ed Balls' backing is an advantage or a disadvantage?

Still wet behind the ears.

As for Balls' backing, likely to be the kiss of death. - The man is a complete *rsehole.