CHRISTINE SHAWCROFT 4 NOTTINGHAM SOUTH

I read with interest on Labour Home that the NEC's Christine Shawcroft looks likely to be shortlisted for Nottingham South. It would be a travesty if she weren't. Like others on the left ( her erstwhile NEC colleague Mark Seddon is another) Christine has been blocked at every turn in previous bids to be a PPC. And she's worked hard and long to have a chance as an MP .But ominously, there is already talk that the NEC would somehow block her candidature if she were to be selected. The plotters would do well to remember that this seat is currently held by Alan Simpson, founder of Labour Against The War and tireless campaigner against the Government's disgraceful foreign policy and on environmental issues. One of the reasons Alan's majority is so large is because of his commitment to socialist values and record as an independently-minded left-winger. Replacing a decent socialist MP with a New Labour yes-person would hardly be good strategy. A similar trick was tried in my neighbouring constituency, Halifax. Linda Riordan won out on the day - despite all kinds of disgraceful manoevring. Go Christine!