General Election: Race for who will try to win Calder Valley for Labour hots up as third senior councillor enters the race

Cabinet member for Climate Action, Active Travel and Housing, Coun Scott Patient has thrown his hat into the ring for Labour’s nomination to fight the seat, currently held by Craig Whittaker.

Announcing his candidacy on social media, Coun Patient (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said: “I’m proud to be putting myself forward as Labour’s next MP for Calder Valley.

“I’ve fought for us here as a resident, as a community campaigner and as a councillor. Now I want to take that fight to Westminster.”

Coun Patient said his candidacy has been endorsed by unions Unite, the FBU and CWU.

Cabinet colleagues Coun Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab, Calder, Cabinet member for Adult Services and Wellbeing) and Coun Adam Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services) are among those already contesting the nomination.

Coun Patient won his Luddenden Foot council seat in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.

Mr Whittaker announced earlier this year he would not be defending the seat and the Conservatives have already selected Vanessa Lee as their candidate.

Mr Whittaker won the sea – which will likely undergo some Boundary Commission changes by the time of the next election – for the Conservatives from Labour in the 2010 general election.

Previously, the Calder Valley seat had been held by Labour’s Chris McCafferty from 1997 to 2010,and from its inception in 1983 until 1997 by Conservative Sir Donald Thompson.