Ealing Councillor Fails in his Bid to Become MP
Ben Wesson was hoping to be Labour candidate in Northampton South
Ben Wesson has been short-listed as a Labour general election candidate. Picture: Twitter
March 9, 2023
A councillor representing Pitshanger ward in Ealing borough has failed in his bid to become a Labour candidate in a winnable parliamentary seat in the East Midlands.
Ben Wesson had made the shortlist for the Northampton South constituency which is currently held by Angela Leadsom for the Conservatives but would be a seat that Labour would hope to win given current polling.
In the event, the local party selected Mike Reader as their candidate on Sunday 5 March. Two days later, Cllr Wesson was back in London holding a ward surgery.
There had been confusion over his domicile after he stated during the campaign for the candidacy that he was resident in Northampton. A request for clarification for where the councillor was resident went unanswered by the local Labour Party.
He stated in a campaign video, “Northampton is where I studied, got my first job and bought my first home. I’m Northampton-made and would be honoured to represent our town. I’m proud of Northampton, but the Tories are holding it back.”
It is not unusual for sitting councillors to absent themselves from the areas which they represent to campaign to become candidates for Westminster seat or during a General Election.
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