A Liverpool councillor has confirmed he is going to challenge Ian Byrne to be the next Member of Parliament for the city's West Derby seat.
Cllr Anthony Lavelle, who has represented the Croxteth ward within the constituency for six years, has made it onto the long-list of candidates to challenge Mr Byrne for the Labour nomination in the safe red rose seat.
Speculation had been building about which local figure would enter the race after the ECHO revealed earlier this month that Mr Byrne was facing a selection battle after being "triggered" by local Labour branches.
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In a statement today Cllr Lavelle said: "I am delighted to have been longlisted to stand to be the next Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby.
"West Derby constituency is the only place I want to represent. It’s the place I grew up - the place I went to school - the place I got my first job and the place I bought my first home. I am looking forward to the opportunity to speak to local party members over the coming weeks about why I want to be their voice in Parliament.
"It has been the honour of my life to serve my home area of Croxteth on Liverpool City Council. It would be an even greater honour to serve the people of West Derby in Westminster."
It is not clear at this stage which other names are on the longlist, but Cllr Lavelle could now be seen as the main challenger to the incumbent MP.
Mr Byrne has had some impressive endorsements in his bid to fend off any challenge and continue being the MP for Liverpool West Derby. The likes of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner have all offered their support and backing.
But it is the local members who will hold the key to his future.
After the full long-list is published, this a selection committee made up of local members and affiliated unions will whittle that longlist down to a shortlist. The West Derby Constituency Labour party members will then cast their votes and decide who they want to be their candidate and the likely Member of Parliament at the next General Election. It is expected that the process will be completed by the end of November.
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