Council duo tipped to replace MP Tipping

As reported in the Dispatch, Mr Tipping is to stand down after 17 years as Hucknall's MP.

Now the process has been launched to find the person Labour want to contest the constituency at next year's General Election.

And both Chris Baron, who is a former member of Notts County Council and Ashfield District Council, and Coun John Knight (Lab), the current leader of Ashfield District Council, are said to be in the running.

Neither would show their hand this week with Coun Knight refusing to discuss the idea any further.

Mr Baron said: "It would be a great accolade to be nominated to stand for Parliament. But the proper process must be taken by the party before any names are put forward.

"Whoever is nominated will have a hard act to follow after Paddy."

The first step towards selecting a prospective candidate will be a meeting of the Sherwood Constituency Labour Party.

Local members will discuss a selection timetable, which usually takes 12 weeks. The vacancy will also be advertised nationally.

Applicants will have to be nominated officially. Any decisions would then go before Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC).

However national party officials are to discuss in the next two weeks whether the Sherwood seat is suitable for an all-female list of possible candidates. This could be considered because all of Nottinghamshire's current Labour MPs are men.