Serial Applicant Heading (or Not) to Livingston

Was just doing a little bit of digging on the Hackney based Adenike Rachel Abimbola-Akindele who has made the short list for the Livingston seat to replace Jim Devine. Hat tip to Blood and Property a Hackney based blog for this comment on LabourHome.

"Adenike Rachel Abimbola-Akindele is a serial applicant who is putting her cv for most seats, she does not turn up at selections or go to the area but because she is a woman and BAME is always shortlisted. It’s a shame as it is blocking places for more worthwhile applicants who have worked the area for many weeks before nominations. Also, as can be seen in Barrow, she is being tactically nominated by some branches to ensure that their man (John Woodcock – Gordan’s Spad) faces less competition."

As even my brief research showed this is the fifth seat in recent months she has been mentioned as being on the shortlist for. You can see why she ticks two boxes a minority candidate and a woman. Again in Livingston she stands out as the only shortlisted candidate to fit either of those criteria. However the last comment on that post tallies with this comment on Jeff's blog last week. It may explain why Ian Murray (who interestingly only blogs in election years) wasn't on the shortlist, then again maybe not.

Of course if Ms Abimbola-Akindele doesn't show the people of Loganlea and Addiewell will hardly notice and the Labour candidate failed to turn up at the hustings in the either the General Election or By Election in 2005.

Short List for Livingston Labour Candidate Announced

A short list of four to replace disgraced Livingston MP Jim Devine has been announced. Senior Labour Councillor Ian Murray who is understood to have put his name forward is not on the list.

The four are:

• Graeme Morrice former West Lothian Council leader
• John McGinty West Lothian Councillor
• Gordon Connolly community education worker
• Adenike Abimbola-Akindele former House of Commons worker

Morrice is Councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh to the north east of the constituency. He currently serves on the Local Area Committee, Avoidance of Disputes Committee, Policy and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny panel and the Joint Consultative Group. He had acted as leader on the Labour controlled Council until the SNP took over as largest party in 2007. In 2007 he was the fourth elected Councillor of four under STV in an area he had represented part of for 20 years.


McGinty is actually one of my local councillors in Bathgate, outwith the Livingston seat, but only just you would say. He serves on the Education Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Local Area Committee, Appeals Committee, Education Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, Health and Care Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel and the Joint Consultative Group (Teaching Staff).


Connolly is theInternational Partnerships Development Officer with West Lothian Council.

Abimbola-Akindele is the outsider coming from Hackney. She is a school governor and a committee member of Africans for Labour. Looking for that 'safe' Labour seat has already sought selection in Thrurock to replace Andrew Mackinlay only last month. Previously seeking to stand in the next general election for Bury in October, Carlisle, Barrow.