High Wycombe MP: Labour's candidate to be decided this weekend

Steve Baker has represented the town since 2010 with the constituency considered to be part of the so-called 'Blue Wall'.

However, YouGov’s latest survey saw Kier Starmer win 'best Prime Minister' over Rish Sunak in 43 out of the 53 seats classed as the ‘Blue Wall’, including in Wycombe, where the Labour leader beats the new Prime Minister by 38% to 31%.

The Wycombe Labour party will choose their parliamentary candidate this weekend with the winner standing to be the town's next MP.

A shortlist of four candidates has been drawn up with a winner scheduled to be selected on Saturday, November 19 after they address Labour members.

Parmjit Dhanda

Dhanda was MP for Gloucester from 2001 to 2010 and was the first person of the Sikh faith to serve as a government minister.

Before entering parliament, he was a campaigns organiser for the Labour Party in West London and the West of England, as well as a councillor on Hillingdon council.

He is the executive director of Back Heathrow, a campaign group backing the construction of a new runway at the airport and a non-executive director in the housing, health and regeneration sectors. 

I am standing to be the @UKLabour PPC for Wycombe.

I'm the local candidate with experience of delivering in Government.

I've built a team to beat the Tories before - I'm ready to do it again.@WycombeLabour have waited 70 years for a Labour MP. Join me, let's make it happen. pic.twitter.com/O4mFPWRek9

— Parmjit Dhanda (@ParmjitDhanda) October 6, 2022

Emma Reynolds

Reynolds was the MP for Wolverhampton North East from 2010 to 2019, when she was unseated by Tory candidate Jane Stevenson.

Whilst in parliament, she held numerous shadow cabinet roles including shadow secretary of state for communities and local government.

She is now the managing director of public affairs, policy and research at financial lobby group TheCityUK. 

I am standing to be Wycombe's parliamentary candidate.
I live locally. Dynamic, experienced, passion for change. I fought the last 4 elections in a marginal seat. I know what it takes to win.
Join me and let’s win Wycombe back for Labour for the first time in over 70 years. pic.twitter.com/KkCxsHbOoR

— Emma Reynolds for Wycombe 🌹 (@EmmaEReynolds) October 7, 2022

Tom Rutland

Rutland is a councillor in Lambeth, representing Streatham Common and Vale ward and currently serving as deputy chief whip.

In 2015, he was the campaign office manager for Tessa Jowell's campaign to be the Labour candidate for London mayor.

Before that, he was a researcher for Labour peer Andrew Adonis during his time as shadow infrastructure minister. 

I’m running to be Wycombe's first @UKLabour MP in 70 years.🌹

Steve Baker and the Tories have delivered the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Child poverty up, NHS waiting times soaring, and food banks the norm.

Wycombe deserves better. I'll make sure we get it. pic.twitter.com/OcIMEXgCIv

— Tom Rutland for Wycombe 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇦🌹 (@tomrutland) October 7, 2022

David Taylor 

He is a former advisor to Gordon Brown and founder and current Vice-Chair of the Labour Campaign for International Development.

David grew up across the Chilterns from Wycombe and in his day job works on climate change and development for a charity, and also volunteers at the Wycombe Foodhub.

I've dedicated my life to fighting poverty & inequality. I’ve achieved change by bringing people together and finding common ground.

I'll put this experience into winning Wycombe 🦢 for Labour and putting us back into government.

Get involved 👇https://t.co/hrlVKIKcRi pic.twitter.com/qeORjoqezR

— David Taylor (@DavidTaylor85) October 7, 2022

A winner is expected to be announced at around midday on Saturday, November 19.