CHERIE BLAIR’S stepmother is to stand for the House of Commons, the British Labour Party confirmed yesterday.
Steph Booth, who is married to Mrs Blair’s actor father Tony Booth, was selected as Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Calder Valley seat, in West Yorkshire, at a meeting on Thursday evening.
Mrs Booth spent the years between 2004 and 2006 living in Ireland and wrote a weekly column for The Irish Times, “Cavan Calling”, about what she called her Irish adventure.
Yesterday she said it was “a real honour” to be selected. “I am delighted that Labour Party members have chosen to put their faith in me. As we all know Calder Valley faces big challenges during the current economic difficulties. I will be working hard for everyone who lives here to make sure our communities get all the help they need.”
Labour MP Chris McCafferty, who has held the seat since 1997, announced last year she would be standing down. The Calder Valley constituency covers a collection of West Yorkshire towns and in the 2005 general election Ms McCafferty won with a majority of 1,367 over the Tories. – (PA)