By-election date set as MP quits to stand as city's Mayor

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Central Government

A by-election will be held in Leicester South on May 5 after Labour MP Sir Peter Soulsby announced he has resigned his seat to stand as the party's candidate for the city's first elected mayor.

A Labour spokesman said an election writ will be moved on Monday, with the by-election taking place on the same day as the mayoral election.

Elections to English councils and devolved assemblies, and the nationwide referendum on electoral reform, will also be taking place that day.

Jon Ashworth has been selected as Labour's candidate for the seat, held by Sir Peter by a comfortable margin of 8,808 votes in last year's general election.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Sir Peter Soulsby has today resigned his seat as Member of Parliament for Leicester South.

"The writ will be moved on Monday April 4, with the by-election taking place on Thursday May 5.

"Peter Soulsby is the Labour Party candidate to become the first elected mayor of Leicester. Jon Ashworth is Labour's candidate to replace Peter as MP for Leicester South.

"Both Peter and Jon will offer the people of Leicester a strong local voice to stand up against the Tory-led Government's unfair cuts which are hurting thousands of decent families across Leicester."

Sir Peter, 62, announced his intention to stand down earlier this month, after the Labour-controlled council approved plans for a directly-elected mayor in December.

The Treasury confirmed today that he had been appointed to the Crown office of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, a procedural step which allows him to stand down as an MP.

He had been MP for Leicester South since 2005, having previously served on Leicester City Council from 1974-2003, including 17 years as leader. He was appointed a member of Ed Miliband's shadow environment team in October last year.

Leicester South has been a safe Labour seat during recent decades, apart from a brief 10-month period when it was held by Liberal Democrat Parmjit Singh Gill following a 2004 by-election held in the wake of the Iraq War.

Mr Gill was selected again as Lib Dem candidate for May's by-election, but stood down after only a few days, citing family pressures, and was replaced by Zuffar Haq. Jane Hunt will contest the seat for Conservatives.