TRADE unionists are being urged to band together to back one nominee to be Labour's next Parliamentary candidate.
The much-delayed selection process to decide who will replace retiring Leigh MP as Labour's candidate at the next General Election is well under way.
Derek Hodgson, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), says: "It is very important for us all to unite around a strong trade union candidate with a proven track recording this particular parliamentary selection.
"It has become fashionable to describe the link between Labour and the unions as historic.
"It is contemporary, important and vital to the future of both organisations.
"There is, however an historic link between Leigh and the union movement. Leigh's last three parliamentary representatives began their political training in the miner's and shopworker's unions. Let's not change a winning formula."
He wants other unions to support Ian Wingfield, a CWU officer who has 12 years' experience working in research and politics at national level.
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