80 Labour hopefuls for vacated seat

Around 80 Labour hopefuls had sent their CVs and applications to fight the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat by last night’s 6pm deadline.

The submissions, from members hoping to replace Phil Woolas as the Labour candidate when the by-election is eventually called, will now be studied by the National Executive Committee in London.

They will draw up a shortlist and invite the selected few to London for interviews before a hustings meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Sunday.

It is still not known when a by-election will be called. Labour are keen to hold it on February 3, which the Tories appear to back, but the Lib-Dems are thought to want it earlier.