A Labour MP has become the first to face a reselection battle ahead of the next election after local activists demanded the chance to pick a new candidate.
Diana Johnson, the Hull North MP who was named Backbencher of the Year in 2018, vowed to fight to stay in the seat yesterday after local members used the so-called “trigger ballot” process to find a new candidate.
Under the process, local party and union branches can demand a new selection process should enough members demand one. It was recently made easier to “trigger” MPs after rule changes were drawn up by the left of the party. Johnson, who is not a regular critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, does not have an automatic right to be included in the short list for the seat, but has vowed to fight on.
In a statement on Saturday, she said: “I am disappointed to have been triggered for an open selection by a small number of members, especially when overall the majority of Hull North constituency Labour party members have so far voted to reselect me. I am currently considering a procedural challenge to the process.
“However, I stand on my record and will continue doing what I have done every day since 5 May 2005, when I was first elected, representing the people of Hull North to the very best of my ability – and working to get a Labour government elected. It’s business as usual as far as I am concerned.”
Other Labour MPs are currently going through the trigger ballot process. In previous elections, it has been a formality, but some local parties have been agitating for candidates who are more closely aligned with the party’s left.
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock tweeted: “I’ve worked with Diana Johnson on the contaminated blood scandal. Little wonder that she won the Backbencher of the Year 2018 award in recognition of her efforts. She’s an inspirational campaigner who’s Labour to her core. Her values, integrity and dedication 2nd to none.”
