THE contest has begun to find a Labour candidate to fight the Calder Valley seat at the next General Election – and it has to be a woman.
When Chris McCafferty became the Labour candidate in the 1990s, it sparked controversy because she was chosen from an all-women shortlist.
It is now party policy to replace any retiring woman MP with a woman so the Calder Valley seat can't be contested by a man.
First to publicly throw her hat into the ring for the women-only job is Hebden Royd Town councillor Janet Oosthuysen, who says she wants to play a leading roll in reshaping the Labour Party.
Mrs McCafferty said in March last year that she would be standing down at the next election after three terms in office.
The search to find her successor was delayed when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister.
The selection time-table means those interested in the Calder Valley position have until May 23 to inform the constituency party and there will follow five weeks of meetings with members before a shortlist is drawn up.
The prospective Parliamentary candidate will be chosen at a hustings meeting on July 12.
Only those who have been fully paid up members of the Labour Party since December 2007 will be allowed to vote.
Janet Oosthuysen came within 53 votes of winning a seat on Calderdale Council in the Calder ward at this month's elections.
"I would hope to convince people I am the best candidate for this job, regardless of gender," said Coun Oosthuysen.
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