Jim Cunningham stands down as local MP...

[dutchman]

The Labour MP said it was time to “hand the baton over to someone new”



Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham has announced he is to stand down at the next General Election.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of the decision by Geoffrey Robinson to also step down as MP.

The long-serving Labour MP, who has represented the city in Parliament for the last 27 years, said it was time to “hand the baton over to someone new”.

He said: “I am today announcing that I will be standing down at the next election.

“I have been privileged to represent this great city first as a councillor and then as a member of parliament for nearly 50 years.

“It has been the honour of my professional life to serve as your Member of Parliament for the last 27 years, but the time has come to hand over the baton to someone new.”

Expanding on his reasons for calling it a day Mr Cunningham added: “The current uncertainty in politics and the ongoing speculation about a snap General Election has provided me the opportunity to think about what is best for me and my family as well as my constituents and the local party.

“I want to thank the thousands of people who have supported me in my role.

“It has always been a team effort, from the party members who help campaign, to the staff who have worked with me in my office and of course my wife and family who continue to be a huge support.”

Mr Cunningham called for the person who stands for Labour in the seat at the next election to be local.

He said: “It is important now that the Labour Party allows local party members in Coventry South the opportunity to select a local candidate.

“It is imperative that the views and opinions of local party members are heard and that can only happen through a local open selection process.”

In conclusion he added: “I will continue to do all I can to support my constituents until the next election.

“I wish the party and most importantly the people of Coventry South the very best for the future.”

[dutchman]

Somehow I don't think his replacement will be any improvement?

[dutchman]

Labour now has shortlist of these two for Coventry South, claim sources..

LABOUR now has a shortlist of two for the vacancy to stand as MP for Coventry South to replace Jim Cunningham, according to our sources.

Unconfirmed reports are that they are…

Zarah Sultana, who works at the West Midlands regional party, and…

Neeraj Patil, a medic and Lambeth councillor, who stood in Putney at the last general election.

He is thought to be a credible candidate despite his lack of links to the city and region.

It follows a furore over the drawing up of longlists by national party officials under emergency rules which were understood to leave off local applicants including Coventry councillors.

Coventry North West members will learn of its shortlist tomorrow, it is understood, after local officials walked out a selection meeting today in further protests, as we reported earlier.

[rebbonk]

We should be fielding local candidates, not Corbyn sympathisers.

I hope the successful one here gets what they deserve... A resounding raspberry and a drubbing at the polls.

[dutchman]

Labour Coventry South candidate Zarah Sultana apologises for 'celebrate deaths' post



A Labour general election candidate has apologised for saying she would "celebrate" the deaths of world leaders, including Tony Blair.

Zarah Sultana wrote on social media in 2015: "Try and stop me when the likes of Blair, Netanyahu and Bush die."

In her apology on Monday, Ms Sultana said she had been "exasperated by endless cycles of global suffering, violence and needless killing".

She is contesting the Coventry South seat on 12 December.

In 2015, Ms Sultana also wrote of her support for "violent resistance" by Palestinians, the Jewish Chronicle reported.

She told the BBC the tweets were from a "deleted account dating back several years from when I was a student".

"This was written out of frustration rather than any malice," she said in a statement, explaining that her anger had arisen "from decisions by political leaders, from the Iraq War to the killing of over 2,000 Palestinians in 2014, mostly civilians, which was condemned by the United Nations".

She added: "I do not support violence and I should not have articulated my anger in the manner I did, for which I apologise."

When she was announced as the Coventry South candidate last week, she wrote on social media: "With your support, I will be a strong socialist voice for working people in this city."

[rebbonk]

Oh what an asset to the city she'll be