Wirral South MP Alison McGovern has confirmed she will put herself forward for a new Birkenhead seat ahead of the next General Election as her current constituency is removed.
The news means a contest is now on the cards between the shadow minister for employment and her fellow Labour MP Mick Whitley, who represents the Birkenhead seat in its current form. Part of the existing Wirral South constituency will be merged into the new Birkenhead seat.
The removal of Ms McGovern's current seat means that the number of MPs representing Wirral after the next General Election will go from four to three.
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In an open letter to her constituents, Ms McGovern expressed her concerns about splitting up the Bromborough and Bebington areas into three different constituencies and that could mean these areas would not get enough attention.
She wrote: "When I first stood to be your Member of Parliament in 2010, I was 29 years old, and I must have seemed pretty naïve. I hoped to win, but I didn’t expect to.
"I wanted to stand for the place that made me, and the campaign team worked so hard, but it seemed incredible to discover at 6am on 7 May 2010 I had won by 531 votes. You gave me your trust against all odds. Thank you so much.
"When I think back over the last 13 years, my one feeling is love. To every person who has stopped me in Bromborough Asda to ask about my family, or who has cheered me on as I do Parkrun in beautiful Birkenhead Park, from Heswall to Bebington and all points in between, and offered friendly encouragement through the rock hard challenges of politics, I can only say thank you."
She added: "I came into politics to change our country and fight for the people of Merseyside, and I plan to continue to do so. I hope to have your support in standing to be Labour’s MP for the new constituency which merges parts of Wirral South and Birkenhead and which will include my home.
"The decades ahead are full of huge opportunities for the Wirral, and I hope to continue to represent you in Parliament on every step of that journey, fighting for a brighter future for the Wirral as I always have done."
It is not clear yet when and how the selection process for the new seats will take place.
The ECHO has approached Mick Whitley's office for a response.
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