Karen Danczuk is seeking selection as a Labour candidate in Bury North, Guido can reveal. The ‘selfie queen’ of politics – who was married to Rochdale MP Simon – submitted an application for the seat last week. A source close to Karen points to her work as a prominent campaigner on child abuse and regular media experience as preparing her for a bigger role in public life:
“Karen connects with people, she’s a poor girl done good, and she’s a local girl. She’s serious about getting selected.”
Karen was previously a Labour councillor in Rochdale. The first husband and ex-wife combo in parliament?
UPDATE: As many of you have got in touch to point out Gordon Prentice (Pendle, 1992-2010) and Bridget Prentice (Lewisham East, 1992-2010) were married in 1975, split up in 1997 and divorced in 2000.
Selfie Queen Karen Danczuk told the BBC last week:
“I’ve been thinking this past week… I would love to be an MP. I genuinely would and I just hope I can get the support out there to enable that, because I think my voice is important.”
Where could she stand? Guido hears Karen is looking at Manchester’s Heywood and Middleton, a Labour seat currently occupied by the uninspiring Liz McInnes, who is currently battling the Momentum hordes in her CLP. Karen said last year:
“I really want to fight Middleton & Heywood at the next General Election for MP!! It’s time they had a home girl putting the town first.”
Which would throw up the prospect of Heywood and its neighbouring Rochdale constituency being held by a former husband and wife…
There are of course other seats without sitting Labour MPs, nearby Rossendale and Darwen is held by Jake Berry with an increased majority of over 5,000 votes against Will Straw. That would not be an easy fight….
Rapist Michael Burke, 38, was jailed for 15 years for horrific sex attacks on Karen and two other women. He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court this morning.
An exclusive St George’s Day treat for Guido readers, courtesy of the dragon-slaying Mrs D:
More like St Phwoarrr-ge’s Day!
We wouldn’t have Mrs D any other way…
Harriet Harman is embroiled in another row this afternoon after councillor Karen Danczuk accused her of telling porkies. Yesterday Mrs D tweeted:
When I first met Harriet Harman she said I was far too pretty to be interested in politics & should be in Girls Aloud. KD
— Karen Danczuk (@KarenDanczuk) February 11, 2015
Only for Harman to hit back strongly today:
“I deny I ever said that and it’s inconceivable I would have ever said that. I’ve always believed it’s what you do in politics, not what you look like. I have never discouraged a woman from getting involved in politics on the basis of their looks.”
But Karen insists to Guido that it did happen, at a party at Labour conference in Manchester a few years ago:
“I can categorically confirm that is exactly what was said to me by Harriet. I actually took it as a compliment and still do. I never thought bad of Harriet saying that to me. However I am now sad to hear that she is denying it when it is the truth. Maybe she had forgotten that she had said that to me. I stand by what I said. It’s the truth. I have no reason to lie.”
Well someone’s not telling the truth…
