Ousted MP faces a tough battle in safe Labour seat

Sep 18 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

Bob Wareing - MP for West Derby (158)

VETERAN politician Bob Wareing faces an uphill struggle to hang on to his West Derby constituency after his de-selection by the Labour Party.

Despite serving people from large areas of the city in the House of Commons since 1983, history does not favour de-selected MPs dropped by their parties.

The Daily Post exclusively revealed yesterday that constituency members have opted for former minister Stephen Twigg, who currently has no links with Liverpool, Merseyside or the north of England, to stand in the seat for Labour.

At the next general election, he will be a candidate in what is considered one of the party’s safest seats in the country.

It means Mr Wareing’s days at Westminster are numbered, unless his decision to stand as an independent succeeds.

Former fireman Terry Fields was the last city MP to be booted out of his seat by the party. He was the Liverpool Broadgreen MP through the Militant era in the ’80s, upsetting the party hierarchy with his extreme left wing views.

He was replaced by Jane Kennedy, the one-time union leader who battled against Militant during the same period. She was rewarded with victory in the 1992 General Election, gaining over 18,000 votes.

Mr Fields had a strong following in Broadgreen, but this was not enough to win over the majority of voters. It demonstrated that the colour of the ticket is usually more important than the name written on it.

Ironically, when Bob Wareing dropped out of the running, those who had voted for him had named Twigg as their second choice. When those second choice votes were added to Twigg’s tally, he was home and dry – thanks to Bob Wareing supporters.

Mr Twigg was not exactly parachuted into West Derby, but there must have been cheers of delight at Labour’s Millbank HQ when he was named as the victor.

Mr Wareing had voted against Tony Blair’s government on a number of issues and has long been considered somewhat of a thorn in their side.

At 76, he is one of just 10 Labour MPs in their 70s, and some felt ready for retirement.

One-time education minister Twigg is almost guaranteed a ministerial job as soon as he crosses the Westminster threshold again, perhaps as a junior minister, but probably groomed for high office.

Some of Mr Wareing’s political allies want him to retire gracefully, and accept that heading into his late 70s after serving for more than two decades is a good career.

But the veteran will have none of it – let battle commence.

larryneild@dailypost.co.uk