Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (MSEC) Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop has announced he will not stand for re-election at the General Election in June, according to the local BBC:
Labour's @TomBlenkinsop announces he will not seek re-election as MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.
— David Macmillan (@bbcdmacmillan) April 18, 2017
After only last week trying to blame Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for the loss of a council seat for which many local members held Blenkinsop himself responsible because of his disengagement and many other reasons, it appears that Blenkinsop doesn’t fancy testing his own popularity and standing with his electorate.
The SKWAWKBOX urges MSEC Labour members to insist on a pro-Corbyn candidate and calls on Labour’s NEC not to disenfranchise members by imposing a right-wing shortlist, as has happened almost invariably in recent by-elections.
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