Quote: Speedy ". . . but she was an imposed candidate by the party, due to the fact they said there had to be a certain number of women in parliament.'"
The local Labour Party at the time, as was their right, elected a candidate to succeed Geoffery Lofthouse, who had decided to retire & accept a peerage to enter the house of Lords.
This candiate was a local long standing Labour councillor who had represented his ward for many years on WMDC & I'm led to believe had the backing of Lord Lofthouse.
Unfortunately the local party decision was overuled by the Labour Party head office & Yvette Cooper was imposed on us because they wanted to ensure she would be elected & we are are a VERY safe Labour seat.
I as an ex-unioin official & member of the Labour Party consequently left the party & have never voted Labour since. I may be wasting my vote in this constituency in not voting Labour but at least I can cast my vote with a clear concience
or my view of public services 
