Tamsin Dunwoody expected to be on Crewe list

May 1 2008 by Matt Withers, Western Mail

A former Labour AM is expected to be on the shortlist of names to contest her late mother’s constituency in a vital forthcoming parliamentary by-election.

Tamsin Dunwoody, who was the AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire from 2003 to 2007, is believed to have put herself forward for the Labour nomination for Crewe and Nantwich, vacated by the death of her mother Gwyneth Dunwoody earlier this month.

Gwyneth Dunwoody, the longest-ever serving female MP, represented the constituency from 1974 to 2008 and at the last General Election had a majority of 7,078.

But commentators say part of the vote was loyalty to the popular and outspoken MP and both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have a realistic chance of winning the seat.

Ms Dunwoody was last night unavailable for comment but a Labour source said she had put herself forward.

Yesterday, Ms Dunwoody, who lost her seat in last year’s Assembly election, told a local newspaper in Crewe her mother was giving her orders “right up to the end” to make sure urgent matters in Crewe and Nantwich were dealt with.

“She was giving me a lot of jobs to do,” she said. “She was saying, ‘Tell Margaret [her assistant in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency office] this and not to forget that!’ She was working right up to the end.”

Devon-born Ms Dunwoody, 49, was Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport and Environment, Planning and Countryside during her time in the Assembly.

The Crewe and Nantwich by-election is likely to be one of the most closely fought for years.

The by-election will be held on May 22 .