THE decision will not be made until the autumn but already there is speculation as to who will be the Labour candidate for Thurrock at the next General Election.
YourThurrock thought it would cast its mind over some of the possible contenders:
Women-only Short-list.
Before we discuss anything, we have to bear in mind that any list could be scuppered by the highly contentious list system. Teresa Pearce was recently selected in Erith and Thamesmead so there is no reason to suppose that they may impose a list in Thurrock as well.
If there was such a list then the name of Grays Councillor Val Morris-Cook could come into the ring.
Val would certainly bring much needed business nouse. Her recent dissection of the Tories self-evaluation on the Improvement Board was very perceptive and over the past year has grown in confidence as Dep. Leader of the Labour Group.
John Kent
Labour leader John Kent is already marked out as a man with a long political career ahead of him. Earnest but not over-bearing, John’s tenure as leader of the opposition has been marked by carefully watching the work of the Tories and with adversarial skills, make inroads on the Tory arguments
Always comes across as truly having the concerns of the Thurrock residents when considering issues.
Richard Bingley
A Dark Horse. Name touted for future contituencies, Richard has gone rather quiet of late on the Thurrock scene.
He could do with Labour being in power in the council and holding a portfolio to really show what he could do but when he does speak he certainly impresses.
Carl Morris
To many, the obvious contender. Chair of the Labour Group and one of the few heavyweights in Thurrock politics. In many ways has outgrown the Council arena and needs a bigger challenge.
Very able media manipulator with many of Labour’s most successful campaigns over the past years from Corringham Car Parking to Terry Hipsey’s defection driven by him. The challenge of “defending” Gordon Brown’s record may be of a different scale entirely.
Tory Perspective
The Tories are clearly delighted that Andrew Mackinlay has stood down. They clealry believe that they have a much clearer run to overturning the marginal. Whether Jackie Doyle-Price is the women to do it is another case entirely. It will male for a fascinating election.
