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| Tories choose candidates for Copeland and Stoke Central byelections | Tories choose candidates for Copeland and Stoke Central byelections |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Conservatives have selected Trudy Harrison to fight the Copeland byelection, while 25-year-old councillor Jack Brereton will contest the Stoke-on-Trent Central seat for the same party. | The Conservatives have selected Trudy Harrison to fight the Copeland byelection, while 25-year-old councillor Jack Brereton will contest the Stoke-on-Trent Central seat for the same party. |
| Harrison, a project manager with four children, will try to snatch the seat from Labour after Jamie Reed quit as an MP to take up a position at the Sellafield nuclear power plant. | Harrison, a project manager with four children, will try to snatch the seat from Labour after Jamie Reed quit as an MP to take up a position at the Sellafield nuclear power plant. |
| Paul Nuttall, the Ukip leader, is expected to pose the main threat to Labour in the Stoke-on-Trent byelection, triggered by the resignation of Tristram Hunt who will become the next director of the V&A Museum. | Paul Nuttall, the Ukip leader, is expected to pose the main threat to Labour in the Stoke-on-Trent byelection, triggered by the resignation of Tristram Hunt who will become the next director of the V&A Museum. |
| Labour’s Copeland majority was cut to 2,564 at the last general election. The Tories hope to take the seat by highlighting their commitment to nuclear power and by appealing to the Brexit-supporting electorate. | Labour’s Copeland majority was cut to 2,564 at the last general election. The Tories hope to take the seat by highlighting their commitment to nuclear power and by appealing to the Brexit-supporting electorate. |
| Both byelections are scheduled for 23 February. | |
| Harrison, 40, said: “This important byelection is an opportunity for the people of Copeland to send a message that the referendum result must be respected. Copeland has had Labour MPs and Labour councils for years. They’ve ignored us and failed to deliver the jobs, infrastructure and services we need, and now they want to ignore how we voted in the referendum. | Harrison, 40, said: “This important byelection is an opportunity for the people of Copeland to send a message that the referendum result must be respected. Copeland has had Labour MPs and Labour councils for years. They’ve ignored us and failed to deliver the jobs, infrastructure and services we need, and now they want to ignore how we voted in the referendum. |
| “I look forward to meeting as many local residents as possible in the coming weeks and setting out how voting Conservative this time will support our local nuclear industry and deliver the investment Copeland deserves.” | “I look forward to meeting as many local residents as possible in the coming weeks and setting out how voting Conservative this time will support our local nuclear industry and deliver the investment Copeland deserves.” |
| Brereton said the Stoke-on-Trent byelection was a chance to “send a message” about respecting the referendum result. “A vote for Labour will let them think they can ignore and forget what you voted for in the EU referendum. | Brereton said the Stoke-on-Trent byelection was a chance to “send a message” about respecting the referendum result. “A vote for Labour will let them think they can ignore and forget what you voted for in the EU referendum. |
| “Over the next few weeks I will be setting out my plan for Stoke-on-Trent Central, and how the Conservatives have a clear plan to deliver what local people voted for and make a success of Brexit.” | “Over the next few weeks I will be setting out my plan for Stoke-on-Trent Central, and how the Conservatives have a clear plan to deliver what local people voted for and make a success of Brexit.” |