Hospital boss and former Army lawyer Adrian Twyning goes into battle for the Labour parliamentary selection contest in Hove tomorrow (Saturday 15 June).
Exit polls at the nomination stage gave Mr Twyning, 36, a boost as he garnered 40 per cent of the votes cast across the constituency.
He faces a formidable rival in former Brighton and Hove City Council leader Simon Burgess, who remains the favourite and who has the influential support of the GMB.
The union is holding a march through Brighton and Hove tomorrow in support of the striking binmen.
The timings enable union members to turn out in force at the selection contest.
Mr Twyning is focusing on what he can offer his party and the voters of Hove, which was represented by Labour from 1997 until the last general election in 2010.
He has recently been made associate director of operations at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
A key part of his job will be trying to secure better performance in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department which was recently criticised by the official watchdog, the CQC.
After qualifying as a lawyer, her served in Iraq, working with the country’s judiciary to try to restore the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Tomorrow he faces Mr Burgess and Peter Kyle, 42, the deputy chief executive of ACEVO (the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations).
Mr Twyning said: “Simon and Peter are both really great and the Labour Party is the better for having them as members.
“But that’s not the issue. The question is who can win back the seat for Labour.
“The Labour Party will have to have a fresh approach in 2015 to win back those votes lost to the Greens and the Lib Dems.
“I feel that my background as someone who is committed to public service and my work locally will help.”
Tomorrow Mr Twyning aims to convince his party colleagues that he is the man they need.
Shouldn’t he be concentrating on sorting out the hospital, instead of scrambling up greasy political poles? Presumably he would dump the job in a blink if he gets selected. Or at least be seeking to do the two jobs at once.
And selection for the 2015 election DOES mean devoting a huge amount of time to self-promotion (nobody even KNOWS this man who has no political track record even)and canvassing.
Makes me wonder if they got the right man for the job of sorting out A&E frankly. And if Labour give selects him, it makes me wonder about them too.