'Bring on by-election' says candidate

THE Tory challenger vying to become the next Norwich North MP has urged Gordon Brown to 'bring on' the date of the by-election.

Chloe Smith, who has written to the prime minister calling for an immediate election, said voters deserved the chance to go to the polls at the first opportunity to elect a new representative after sitting Labour MP Ian Gibson quit his post.

“Gordon Brown should call the election earlier rather than later so that there is an MP who can look after residents,” she said.

“He has a choice between doing a public service and giving us a by-election, or political expediency.

“People are worried about the direction the country is going in and I think a lot of this by-election will be focused on big national issues, but people also want a local voice.”

The 27-year-old was campaigning in Norwich on Wednesday with shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, and she will be joined today by shadow families minister Maria Miller to visit two Sure Start Centres in the constituency.

Labour meanwhile has yet to find a candidate and applicants have until Sunday to put their names forward before a shortlist is drawn up by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

This week it emerged that Phil Taylor, a former government adviser who lives in the city and has been critical of Dr Gibson's deselection, is not planning to stand.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems, whose leader Nick Clegg was campaigning in Norwich yesterday , are due to name a candidate in the next few days.

The Green Party, which finished strongly in the recent local and European elections is due to name its candidate next Wednesday after a selection meeting.

Dr Gibson resigned after the ruling Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) barred him from standing at the next election in the wake of allegations that he let his daughter and her partner live in his London flat rent-free before selling it to her at a discount.

There is speculation that the prime minister favours waiting until after the party conference season in October before holding the by-election, as he seeks to steady the government ship after seeing off a potential leadership crisis.

Norwich Advertiser