Stephen Tall

Here’s the full list of selection contests in the coming month available for Lib Dems on the approved parliamentary candidates’ list, together with the closing date for applications. They include Watford, on paper the 6th most winnable Tory seat for the Lib Dems, needing a swing of just 1.39%, as well as Redcar, where incumbent MP Ian Swales, whose majority over Labour is 5,214, is stepping down. And if anyone fancies taking on health secretary Jeremy Hunt, his South West Surrey seat is also up for grabs.

The following seats have selections in progress and are currently advertising for candidates:

Hackney North and Stoke Newington, 16th August
Hackney South and Shoreditch, 16th August
Batley and Spen, 18th August
Watford, 19th August
Skipton and Ripon, 20th August
Ludlow, 22nd August
Meon Valley, 22nd August
Stretford and Urmston, 22nd August
Weston-super-Mare, 22nd August
Stroud, 27th August
Edmonton, 29th August
Enfield North, 29th August
Enfield Southgate, 29th August
Garston and Halewood, 29th August
Liverpool Riverside, 29th August
Liverpool Walton, 29th August
Liverpool Wavertree, 29th August
Liverpool West Derby, 29th August
Manchester Central, 29th August
Redcar, 29th August
Workington, 29th August
Stockton North, 3rd September
Stockton South, 3rd September
Clacton, 6th September
Harwich & North Essex, 6th September
South West Surrey, 9th September
Aberdeen South, 25th August
Banff & Buchan, 12th September
Moray, 12th September
Na h-Eileanan an Iar, 12th September
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, 12th September
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, 12th September
Falkirk, 12th September
Airdrie and Shotts, 12th September
Motherwell and Wishaw, 12th September
Lanark and Hamilton East, 12th September
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, 12th September
Linlithgow and East Falkirk, 12th September
Livingston, 12th September

In addition, applications for Scottish Parliament Regional List Selections are also invited:

West of Scotland, 21st September
Glasgow, 21st September
Central Scotland, 21st September
South of Scotland, 21st September
Lothians, 21st September
Mid Scotland & Fife, 21st September
North East, 21st September
Highlands & Islands, 21st September

Further information, including Returning Officer contact details, can be found on the Lib Dem members’ website: http://www.libdems.org.uk/forms/user_sessions/new and then once you have logged in by following the links: Our Party > Selection Adverts – Latest News. Note you will need to register online and login in order to access the advert webpage.

* Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and editor of the 2013 publication, The Coalition and Beyond: Liberal Reforms for the Decade Ahead. He is also a Research Associate for the liberal think-tank CentreForum and writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.