Labour has selected its parliamentary candidate for Bolton West and Atherton for the next general election. Phil Brickell, a former NHS worker who is currently a councillor on Manchester City Council, will be hoping to win the seat currently held by Chris Green MP, a Conservative who won in 2015.
The constituency is currently the safest Conservative seat in Greater Manchester with Mr Green upping his majority to 8,855 at the last national poll in December 2019. A vote of local Labour Party members on Saturday, July 1 saw Mr Brickell gain the most support.
Coun Brickell currently represents the ward of Baguley in the Wythenshawe area of South Manchester. He said it was ‘an honour’ to be selected.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
Coun Brickell thanked Labour Party members in Bolton West for choosing him, saying ‘I’m truly humbled’. He added: “I know how much work lies ahead to win the seat for Labour. I’m up for the challenge.”
Coun Brickell describes himself as ‘a Bolton lad born and bred’. He said: “I have the local connections to stand up for residents.
“My mum worked at Bolton Hospital for more than 30 years and my Dad was a paramedic based on Belmont Road and then a carer. My earliest political memory was standing on a picket line with my dad – standing up for ambulance crew pay rises.
“As a former NHS employee myself, I know how valuable our key workers are. The first of my family to go to university, I benefited from education maintenance allowance and the record investment in the NHS achieved by the last Labour government.
“That’s why I joined the Labour Party more than 13 years ago. To stand up for our shared values of social justice and equality.” A Labour Party spokesperson, said: “Phil Brickell is an outstanding choice for Bolton West. He knows the issues local residents face.
“Phil is best placed to make the case for the investment Bolton West needs in vital public services.”
At the selection meeting Coun Brickell saw off two other short listed candidates, Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed and Sobia Malik.
The selection process to produce a short-list was not without controversy. A general election hopeful who missed the short-list, Ryan Quick, said the process was ‘a stitch-up’.
Two weeks ago he suggested this short-list was manipulated by more senior Labour officials to choose those favoured by the central party rather than local members. Mr Quick, who lives in Horwich, said: “I understand the disillusionment and frustration many members may feel.
“The manipulation of selection processes has left us questioning whether our party truly represents us. “It’s disheartening, especially considering other genuinely local candidates were overlooked in this process.”
