Blair ally to contest Sedgefield

Sedgefield

One of Tony Blair's oldest political allies has been selected by local Labour Party members to contest the former premier's seat in Sedgefield.

Phil Wilson, one of the original five activists who backed Blair's own nomination for the safe Labour seat in 1983, was chosen at a packed meeting at Trimdon Labour Club on Tuesday evening. Blair is quitting the County Durham constituency to take up his new role as Middle East envoy.

Public relations consultant Wilson said he was "honoured and overwhelmed" to have been selected. "Like local people, I live here," he added. "What matters to them and their families matters to me. That's why I'll always fight for this area."

Wilson will contest a by-election on July 19. Blair retained the seat with a majority of 18,449 votes at the 2005 general election.

Gulf News