Journalist throws his hat into ring to replace Sir Tony as MP
ROCHDALE-BORN political journalist Paul Waugh has said he wants to “stop being a spectator and start being a player” after emerging as one of three contenders bidding to be Labour’s candidate to replace Tony Lloyd as the town’s MP.
Mr Waugh - Chief Political Commentator for the i newspaper - has been shortlisted for the role by Labour alongside Azhar Ali, the leader of Lancashire County Council’s Labour group, and Wigan councillor Nazia Rehman.
Labour are expected to announce this weekend who will be their candidate in the expected by-election to replace Sir Tony, who died on
January 17 only days after announcing that he was suffering from an incurable form of leukaemia.
And in an exclusive statement to The Northern Agenda politics newsletter, Mr Waugh said: “I’m a proud Rochdalian, born and bred, and it would be a true honour to succeed the inspiring Sir Tony Lloyd to represent my home town.”
He added: “While the
Tories tear themselves apart, Labour needs more than ever a unifying candidate who can champion all of Rochdale’s fantastic diversity and live up to our proud Co-operative history.
“During my 26-year career in political journalism, people from all sides of politics know I’m a straight dealer. But I can’t stand by to see the Tories ruin the NHS, having already trashed the economy and Britain’s global reputation.
“For me, it’s time to stop being a spectator and start being a player, but it’s now up to Labour members in
Rochdale to decide who they think has the best chance of winning this by-election.”
It’s understood Mr Waugh, who was interviewed yesterday before the shortlist was announced, was approached by local Labour members in Rochdale about standing.
The veteran journalist is a life-long Rochdale Football Club supporter who was born and raised in the town, going to local schools and growing up on a council estate at Spotland opposite the football club.
Before becoming Chief Political Commentator for the i he was Executive Editor, Politics, for Huffpost UK, based in London and has served as editor of Politicshome, and deputy political editor at the London Evening Standard and the Independent.
In 2012, he published a story detailing the ‘abuse of power’ by former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith, with former residents of Cambridge House hostel in Rochdale going on the record for the first time.
As the shortlisted candidates were named last night, one of the hopefuls, Azhar Ali, tweeted that he was “happy to have been shortlisted”.
He added: “Tony Lloyd was a great man, a friend, and Rochdale’s champion.
No one wanted this by-election, but after 14 years of the Tories, it’s critical we send Rishi a message, fight for every vote & win.”
Sir Tony, who was first elected in Rochdale in 2017 secured a majority of nearly 10,000 when he was last elected as Rochdale’s MP in 2019.
Tributes to the late MP poured in from his Parliamentary colleagues in the Commons this week.