Trouble is brewing up in Stockton. Local activists are accusing Labour HQ of “blatant nepotism” for selecting the partner of shadow health secretary Wes Streeting for the Stockton West candidacy. Joe Dancey, who has for the last decade been reported to live in London, was selected in October in a two-man shortlist that included a student paramedic from York as his only opposition. Former Labour MP and local GP Paul Williams (of Hartlepool fame) was denied the opportunity to get on the shortlist…

Stockton West is a key marginal currently occupied by Tory MP Matt Vickers. Guido hears local activists are less than convinced that Dancey will be able to regularly commute from London, where he lives with Streeting, to Stockton. Dancey, who used to work for Peter Mandelson, is also listed as a director of PR at strategy firm Endeavour Advisory Ltd, which is based in London. Led by former Labour member Mohammed Maroof, Stockton locals have filed a complaint to Labour HQ alleging that Dancey was unfairly parachuted in. Streeting’s ex Josh MacAlister also has a candidacy – it’s who you know…