Tooting by-election: Voters turn out to pick Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s replacement
Voters in Tooting are turning out today to decide who will become their new MP after Sadiq Khan stepped down on winning City Hall.
Labour are heavy favourites to win the by-election, triggered by Khan's victory over Conservative Zac Goldsmith in the London mayoral election, having held the seat since it was created in 1974.
Read more: What the quiet rise of Tooting says about the challenges facing Sadiq Khan as mayor
Polls opened at 7am this morning and will close at 10pm tonight. The winner is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday morning.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan was chosen by Labour. She was born in Tooting and lives in the area with her family. She works as an A&E specialist doctor at St George’s Hospital and is a local councillor. Rosena has also used her medical experience working as an international humanitarian aid worker.
Read more: Allin-Khan chosen by Labour in battle to secure Sadiq Khan's former seat
Meanwhile, the Conservatives tapped Dan Watkins, who ran against Khan for the seat in the 2015 General Election (but, obviously, lost).
The Liberal Democrat's candidate is Alex Glassbrook, a barrister, while Elizabeth Jones, who has before stood as an MEP candidate in London, is running for Ukip.
Just so you're fully informed, Alan "Howling Laud" Hope is the Monster Raving Loony Party's representative. Hope and his pet cat were jointly elected as leaders of the party after the death of Screaming Lord Sutch in 1999.