M.P. not surprised by challenges

Press, 13 May 1986, Page 1

M.P. not surprised by challenges

The member of Parliament for Avon, Mrs Mary Batchelor, is not surprised that she will have at least four challengers for her Parliamentary nomination.

She said yesterday that the great interest in Avon was a result of the good results she had always turned in for the party at General Elections.

She warned, however, that challenges to sitting members were not always a good idea. There was a far better representation to choose from when a retiring member was being replaced, she said. Avon is one of the safest Labour seats, with a majority of 7771 at the last election, when Mrs

Batchelor polled 60 per cent of the votes. Nominations for Avon, and all Labour-held seats, closed yesterday afternoon, but the final number of candidates will not be known until this afternoon.

Four candidates have already said they will challenge Mrs Batchelor, who has held Avon for the Labour Party since 1972.

The two latest challenges are from Mr Larry

Sutherland, chairman of the Labour Regional Council in Canterbury, and Mr Bill Woods, the Labour Party’s candidate in Selwyn in 1978 and 1981.

Mr Sutherland, aged 35, has a solid background in the industrial and political wings of the Labour Party. He is assistant secretary of the Canterbury, Westland and Nelson Shop Employees’ To page 4