Meacher: thoughts already turn to by-election

THE eyes of all political parties are firmly fixed on Oldham with a by-election looming in the wake of the shock death of MP Michael Meacher.

The Chronicle was first to break the news about the veteran MP, who died after a short illness, on Wednesday, aged 75.

As tributes continue to flood in for the Labour veteran, books of condolence have been opened at Oldham Civic Centre, Royton Town Hall and Chadderton Wellbeing Centre.

The main political parties will already be planning their by-election campaigns for the Oldham West and Royton seat. Mr Meacher, MP for the constituency since 1970, received 55 per cent of the vote in May’s election, comfortably retaining his seat with a 14,738 majority.

Labour will now have to choose a candidate to run for a seat that has only ever been held by Mr Meacher - he was already the incumbent when boundary changes created the Oldham West and Royton seat in 1997. It will be Labour’s first election campaign under new leader Jeremy Corbyn, a close friend of Mr Meacher.

Though many expect an easy hold for Labour, Nigel Farage’s UKIP is expected to campaign vigorously fo the vacancy, in the expectation that a lot of his 55 per cent of the total will have been personal rather than party-inclined.

A man who knows what it feels like to stand for MP in the borough is Phil Woolas, who was stripped of his win in the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat at the 2010 general election.

Mr Woolas paid tribute to his former colleague: “There are a quarter of a million people in Oldham. Not many haven’t benefited directly from the huge commitment to their service from Michael.

“We owe him and we will miss him. When people say politicians don’t do good, I say, ‘do you know Michael Meacher?’ I am distraught at his passing.”

Funeral details are still to be announced.