From Corrie to the Commons – Is a former soap star lining up a bid to replace Jo Cox?
Murdered MP Jo Cox could reportedly be replaced by a former star of Coronation Street, Eastenders and Holby City.
According to The Sun, Tracy Brabin, who featured in Coronation Street for eight years as Tricia Armstrong, will announce a bid for to be the Labour candidate for the seat within days.
A source in the local Labour branch told the Sun that Brabin was "nailed on" to win the nomination and would be "a very good fit" following Cox's brutal murder in June.
“Tracy worked very closely with Jo on a number of local issues and is keen to carry on her work,” the source said.
“She’s well known locally, she grew up around here and is seen as the best candidate by the local Labour party.”
Labour's National Executive Committee will draw up a shortlist of candidates for the seat, with the constituency Labour party then voting for their preferred candidate.
Although a date for the Batley and Spen vote has yet to be set, Brabin would be among a shortened list of candidates, after the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Ukip and The Green Party all said they would not contest the seat following Cox's murder in June.
One group set to contest the seat is “anti-Islamisation” party Liberty GB, with former British National Party member Jack Buckby as the candidate.
Brabin could not be reached for comment.