A Labour councillor from Reading has launched a campaign to be her party’s candidate for the new Earley and Woodley constituency at the next general election.
The parliamentary constituency was created in a redrawing of the political map of England, which determines how people will be represented by MPs in Parliament.
The constituency will be made up of Earley, Woodley and Shinfield in Wokingham Borough, and also the Whitley and Church council wards of Reading Borough.
Councillor Rachel Eden (Labour, Whitley), who served as the Mayor of Reading from 2022-23, has announced she will be seeking selection.
She took to social media yesterday, writing: “I am Rachel Eden and I’m asking for your support to be Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Earley and Woodley.
“I’m excited to confirm that I’m applying to be the Labour candidate for Earley and Woodley, where I’ve been a councillor for the last 13 years.”
Reading Today first revealed her intentions on October 9.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) was announced as the Conservative candidate in the summer. She is leader of the opposition on Wokingham Borough Council.
Cllr Eden has run as an MP previously, as candidate for Wantage in 2017 and Reading West in 2019.
On both occasions she lost out to Conservative incumbents. In 2019, she received 20,276 votes, being beaten by incumbent Conservative MP Alok Sharma who won 24,393 votes.
Earley and Woodley Labour members will vote for their candidate to represent them at a party meeting, where hustings and a vote will be held.
The Liberal Democrats have not yet selected their candidate for the seat.
