Patrick Hurley has today been selected as the Labour candidate to contest the Southport Parliamentary seat at the next General Election.
He was on a list of three names which were up for selection today, with the aim of challenging sitting Conservative MP Damien Moore.
The Liverpool Labour councillor formerly represented the Mossley Hill area of the city before losing his seat at this year’s local elections as he ran for the newly created Waterfront South ward.
On Twitter, he describes himself as: “Working class bloke from the north west. Former call centre worker, now helps community groups and non-profits across the north.”
His selection was revealed by Times columnist Patrick Maguire.
Patrick Hurley, former Liverpool councillor, selected as Labour candidate for Southport
— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) July 22, 2023
On his website, Patrick Hurley says: “If selected to be your Labour candidate, I’ll work tirelessly to help this community. I’ll work not just in Parliament, but also in the constituency, to bring the most effective innovations from across the country to the town.
“I’ll bang the drum loudly for much-needed transport links, the necessary investment in our economic offer, and the skills training we need to ensure that the next generation stays local and contributes to the town’s future.”
Labour’s Southport Parliamentary candidate for the last three General Elections was Liz Savage.
Southport is a seat that Labour has never won, and has swung over the years between Conservative and Liberal / Liberal Democrat MPs.
Also on the shortlist today was criminal barrister Ella Crine, who previously worked on Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign and was a parliamentary assistant to Wirral South MP Alison McGovern.
Sherwan Chowdhury, the third person on the shortlist, is a Labour councillor in Broad Green Ward in Croydon, South London.
The current Southport MP is Conservative Damien Moore, who won the 2019 General Election with a 4,147 majority, and the 2017 General Election with a 2,914 majority.
Southport was a Liberal Democrat seat under John Pugh (2015, 2010, 2005, 2001) until Damien Moore won it for the Conservatives.
Labour however finished second in both 2019 and 2017, pushing the Lib Dems into third, in what has become a hotly contested three-way contest.
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