Lorna Greenwood is the Labour Party candidate

LABOUR and the Conservatives have selected their candidates for what could be a close-fought council by-election.

The New Journal reported last week how long-serving Liberal Democrat Flick Rea is stepping down from the council after 35 years, opening up a council chamber vacancy in the Fortune Green ward.

She has urged people in the neighbourhood to now back Liberal Democrat candidate Nancy Jirira – the nurse whose courageous personal battle with Covid was charted on the BBC documentary Hospital.

Nancy Jirira

But Labour hold the other two Fortune Green seats and are looking to make it a clean sweep after choosing charity worker Lorna Greenwood for their ballot paper choice.

The 33-year-old has been working for food relief projects during the pandemic after being furloughed from her job. She described the poll as “crucial” – although the Lib Dem literature has reminded voters that overall control of the council is not at stake.

Ian Cohen, left, is the Conservative selection

Labour holds a dominant majority in the chamber.

The Conservatives are fielding dry cleaner Ian Cohen and are looking to build on London election results which put them in second place in the ward.

The vote is on July 22