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Female candidate for Bennett’s seat?

Tom Rowley
20/11/2002

ANDREW Bennett's successor as Labour candidate for the Denton and Reddish seat is likely to be a woman.

Mr Bennett, MP for Denton and Reddish, who secured a 15,330 majority at the last election, said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed representing first Stockport North, from 1974 to 1983, and then Denton and Reddish from 1983.

"I have always felt that I should not stand for election again once I reached 65 and I have, therefore, notified the constituency Labour Party so that they can start looking for another candidate.

"I am very grateful for the support I have received from people in Tameside and Stockport over many years which I have always valued highly."

Cllr Andrew Gwynne, chairman of Denton and Reddish Constituency Labour Party, said: "We would like to offer our thanks and appreciation for all the hard work he has done as MP for Denton and Reddish.

"He has been a tireless campaigner throughout his years as an MP and has been very active in the constituency.

"Whoever our next candidate should be for the next general election will most definitely have a hard act to follow.

"We wish Andrew well for the future."

Cllr Gwynne, who represents Denton West, added that indications from the regional Labour Party suggest party members in Denton and Reddish will be choosing their next parliamentary candidate from a list made up solely of women.

At present 95 of Labour's 410 MPs are women, and it is party policy for the five safest vacant seats in the North West to have all-women shortlists to boost the female parliamentary contingent.

A Labour Party spokeswoman in London confirmed that half of all winnable seats should have women candidates.

Now aged 63, Mr Bennett is a senior backbencher and chairman of the Commmons select committee which scrutinises the office of the deputy Prime Minister.

Previously he chaired the local government, transport and the regions committee.

A teacher and an Oldham councillor before he won Stockport North with a bare 203 majority in February 1974, the Manchester-born father of three is a keen rambler and campaigns for the 'right to roam'.

He is also opposed to hunting with dogs, and his retirement announcement coincides with the government's decision to finally reject the controversial Waterside Park development in his constituency, which he has opposed tirelessly for the past 13 years.