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John O'Farrell to be Labour's candidate in Eastleigh John O'Farrell to be Labour's candidate in Eastleigh
(35 minutes later)
John O'Farrell, the broadcaster and author of 'Things Can Only Get Better: Eighteen Miserable Years in the Life of a Labour Supporter', has been selected to be the party's candidate in the Eastleigh byelection. As the author of a seminal account of an activist's life during Labour's 'wilderness years' of the 80s and early 90s, and later as a writer of jokes for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, John O'Farrell has been cheering up the party's rank-and file for decades as the self-deprecating chronicler of middle class, left-wing angst.
After it emerged on Tuesday night that local members in the constituency had selected him, he tweeted: "There is a great deal of hard work ahead. But first I am going to the pub." But after local members in Eastleigh selected him to be the party's candidate in the upcoming byelection, the comedy writer was settling down for the challenge of capturing the south-coast seat – although not quite immediately.
O'Farrell, who grew up in Maidenhead, stood as Labour's candidate in the 2001 general election, where the events surrounding his doomed election bid were the subject of the BBC documentary called 'Campaign Confessions: Losing My Maidenhead'. "There is a great deal of hard work ahead. But first I am going to the pub," he tweeted immediately after news emerged of his official selection over two other Labour members.
He has published four novels and was a writer on 'Spitting Image' and 'Have I Got News For You', as well as being a columnist for the Guardian and the Independent. The campaign will be the second occasion that O'Farrell has had a crack at making the transition from party grunt to parliamentarian. In the 2001 general election, he stood as the "no-hope" Labour candidate in his home town of Maidenhead. The events surrounding his doomed bid were the subject of the BBC documentary called Campaign Confessions: Losing My Maidenhead.
A poll last week put the Liberal Democrats three points down on the Conservatives in the battle to win the seat vacated by the former Liberal Democrat minister, Chris Huhne. Announcing his candidacy on Twitter last Friday, O'Farrell tweeted: "Ed Miliband needs someone in Eastleigh with a track record of winning elections. Despite this I'm going to offer myself as Labour candidate".
After studing English and drama at Exeter University, he moved to London in 1985 to pursue a career in stand-up comedy but switched his focus to comedy writing.
Before writing four novels, in 1998 he published Things Can Only Get Better: Eighteen Miserable Years in the Life of a Labour Supporter, which went on to become a number one best-seller and was nominated for a number of awards. The Morning Star said that the book was: "Full of humour – often at his own and comrades's expense".
Other non-fiction works have included An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years Of Upper Class Idiots In Charge) in 2007.
He has also been a writer on Spitting Image and Have I Got News For You, and a columnist for the Guardian and the Independent. Broadcasting appearances have included Grumpy Old Men and Have I Got News For You.
Ladbrokes installed him at odds of 10/1 to win the seat vacated by the former Liberal Democrat minister, Chris Huhne. A poll last week put the Lib Dems three points down on the Conservatives in the byelection battle.
The survey, conducted on 4-5 February by the former Conservative deputy chairman, Lord Michael Ashcroft, suggests the Lib Dems will have to work hard to save the seat, mainly by clawing back the Labour vote, and chiefly by arguing only they can defeat the Tories.The survey, conducted on 4-5 February by the former Conservative deputy chairman, Lord Michael Ashcroft, suggests the Lib Dems will have to work hard to save the seat, mainly by clawing back the Labour vote, and chiefly by arguing only they can defeat the Tories.
The Conservatives have reselected Maria Hutchings as their candidate. She stood in 2010 and will try to counter the Lib Dems local appeal.The Conservatives have reselected Maria Hutchings as their candidate. She stood in 2010 and will try to counter the Lib Dems local appeal.
The contest, on 28 February, is likely to be a microcosm of the general election battles that lie ahead in the 20 or so Lib Dem-held seats facing a serious challenge from the Conservatives. David Cameron needs to show his party he can win these seats if he is to convince them he can win an overall majority.The contest, on 28 February, is likely to be a microcosm of the general election battles that lie ahead in the 20 or so Lib Dem-held seats facing a serious challenge from the Conservatives. David Cameron needs to show his party he can win these seats if he is to convince them he can win an overall majority.