Is at it again.
Linda Riordan, Labour MP for Halifax is not going to stand in the forthcoming general election. Unfortunately, as she has decided this at a very late stage the National Labour party in London says there isn't time for the local party to organise candidates so they, the London Labour party, will provide a list of candidates for them.
How kind!
This is exactly the same stunt that Labour pulled in 2010, when they parachuted Tristram Hunt into Stoke. The secretary of the local party was so upset he stood against jolly old Trissers in the election.
So! Who are the lucky people of Halifax going to get as their Labour candidate?
Honest Cromwell, the bookie you can trust has come up with some odds!
1. Whoever it is they will be some nice middle class person from outside the area who no one locally has ever heard of, who went to public school and whose children will be educated privately as well. NO BETS TAKEN.
2. Some bloke called Tarquin. 5-1.
3. A London councillor. 7-1.
4. A candidate from an all women shortlist. Evens.
5. A local person who is anti-eu and anti-immigration. 1000-1
Or will Milibean and his mates release that everyone knows this trick has been spotted and - gasp - have an all-local person shortlist? (No.)