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Ruth Kelly told to reveal constituency intentions

02/01/2007

A Bolton councillor has called on Labour MP and local government secretary Ruth Kelly to reveal whether she intends to stand for the Bolton West seat at the next general election.

It is has been rumoured that Ms Kelly will move seats in order to survive a possible dip in support for the Labour Party at the next general election.

Councillor Andy Morgan, a member of the Bolton West Conservative Party, told Bolton News: "If Ruth Kelly wanted to nip this one in the bud, all she would have to do is deny the speculation and confirm she was standing for Bolton West."

Ms Kelly has refused to respond to speculation that she will switch from her marginal constituency which had a 2,064 majority in 2005 to the much safer Bolton South-east seat when Dr Brian Iddon retires.

Labour MP Dr Iddon won by 11,638 votes at the 2005 general election.

A senior Labour Party source told the newspaper said that "any indication that we can't hold seats like Ruth's is an admission we can't win the next election".

Another high-profile Greater Manchester Labour MP, Hazel Blears, has been accused of hypocrisy after supporting the government's NHS reforms while simultaneously protesting against the closure of maternity wards at Salford's Hope Hospital.




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