Candidates announced for Bexley by-election to succeed the late MP James Brokenshire
By Kiro Evans, local democracy reporter
The major parties have begun to announce who will be standing to succeed the late Bexley MP, James Brokenshire.
The former minister died from lung cancer aged 53 last month, triggering a by-election.
Over the weekend, the Conservatives announced they will be standing Louie French, a councillor of eight years in the area and friend of Mr Brokenshire’s.
He says he wants to continue the late MPs’ legacy and is seen as the favourite to win the seat.
Mr French, who is a former deputy leader of Bexley Council, said: “It’s an honour to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup, where I hope to carry on his [Mr Brokenshire’s] excellent work.
“I will campaign to ensure that outer London areas like Old Bexley and Sidcup are not forgotten or left behind by the mayor of London and City Hall.”
He added that he would improve GP services and access to healthcare if elected.
Labour are standing Daniel Francis, a councillor in Bexley who has lived in the area his entire life. He said on Twitter: “I’ve lived in this borough all my life and worked tirelessly to represent the local community for over 20 years.
“I can’t wait to get out on the doorstep and start talking to constituents.”
The other high-profile candidate to be confirmed is Richard Tice, the leader of Reform, previously known as the Brexit Party.
Mr Tice told the Telegraph he wanted to send a “powerful message to Boris Johnson” and branded the Tories as the party of “consocialism” who presided over a “highly-taxed, highly regulated nanny state”.
The Liberal Democrats and the Greens have yet to announce a candidate.
Mr Brokenshire was elected MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup in 2010, having previously been the MP for Hornchurch from 2005-2010.
He was re-elected with a majority of almost 19,000 in the 2019 General Election, and the seat is seen as generally safe for the Conservatives.
The Tories have won the seat in every election since it was created in 1983, with former Prime Minister Edward Heath one of Brokenshire’s predecessors.
There is no confirmed date for the by-election.