More Labour candidates bidding to fight next general election

Nona Buckley-Irvine, has held a number of roles in the Crawley Constituency Labour Party including serving as its election agent, and Dan Dobson, a Labour Party activist and trade unionist for the last decade, are both looking for a chance to take on Tory MP Henry Smith.

Earlier this week Peter Lamb, leader of Crawley Borough Council, also announced he had put his name forward to be Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Crawley.

The town was represented in Parliament by Labour’s Laura Moffatt from 1997-2010, but since Mr Smith has been Crawley’s MP.

While the next general election may not be held until 2022, Crawley’s Constituency Labour Party has started the process of choosing its next prospective parliamentary candidate in the event a snap election is called by the Tories.

A final decision on a candidate is expected in January.

Ms Buckley-Irvine has served as Crawley CLP’s youth and student officer, election agent, procedures secretary, and women’s officer, and was also the general secretary of the students’ union at the London School of Economics.

She grew up in Southgate and Broadfield, and has been a Crawley Labour Party activist since she was a child.

Ms Buckley-Irvine said: “I’m standing to be Crawley Labour’s next PPC because for far too long, our Tory MP has treated Crawley with complacency.

“People’s life chances in this town depend very much on where you live - areas like Broadfield and Bewbush face a lower quality of life, are less likely to send young people to university, and have a lower life expectancy. These areas are very much ignored by our MP.

“It’s not good enough. We need to start talking about creating opportunities for everybody in Crawley, no matter what part of town you come from.

“I am passionate about working for every single resident to deliver a better future for Crawley people, irrespective of your background - and if selected, I will deliver on this promise.”

Meanwhile Mr Dobson, who lives in Furnace Green and is an electrician by trade, works in Gatwick communicating with up to 50 construction workers, management, support staff, specialist contractors and key stakeholders on a daily basis.

He said: “Tory austerity has hit Crawley hard; homelessness is on the rise, jobs are low paid and austerity is cutting deep into the social fabric of our town.

“With an honest working class candidate I know that we can get rid of the Tories here and at Westminster, and bring in an ambitious Labour Government which will transform the lives of Crawley’s constituents.”

He added: “I have been proud to vote for Jeremy Corbyn in both leadership elections, and I wholeheartedly support our manifesto for the many. Crawley needs investment, protection for workers and an end to austerity.

“If we offer people hope driven by policies which fulfil their needs, we can win Crawley for Labour and put Jeremy Corbyn into Number Ten. I am standing to become our candidate for Crawley because I know that I must do my part to help realise that vision.”