Former mayor joins race for city MP

Former city mayor Phil Bateman has thrown his hat into the ring to become a Wolverhampton MP at the next general election, the Express & Star can reveal.

Mr Bateman has emerged as a surprise contender for the Wolverhampton North East parliamentary seat about to be vacated by MP Ken Purchase at the next election. 

The 58-year old, who lost his Wednesfield North council seat after 22 years service in the local elections 12 days ago, has put his name forward as the hopeful Labour candidate. 

He said: “The time is right for me to do this, circumstances are circumstances and I don’t want people to think I’m down in the dumps now I’ve lost my council seat. “We have known for some time now that Ken is stepping down at the next general election and with the local elections out of the way the time was right for me to make this decision. 

“I am hoping to be the Labour candidate but we don’t know if it will be an all-woman shortlist yet.” 

Mr Bateman, who was the Wolverhampton’s mayor in 2005, was awarded an MBE for services to transport in the West Midlands in 2004 and stepped down as corporate affairs director at Travel West Midlands just before his crushing elections defeat to the Tory Party. He was first elected to Wolverhampton City Council in 1984 and lost his seat in 1992, only to win it back two years later and remain on the authority until this month. 

The Wolverhampton North East parliamentary seat, which has been held by Ken Purchase since 1992, has a majority of 8,156 and is expecting to be courted  by other Labour hopefuls before a candidate is finalised. 

Former Labour MP John Cryer, a former newspaper journalist who lost his seat in 2005, has also been canvassing Labour members in the area and may yet put his name forward too.   

Despite it being one of the safest seats in the country, the Conservatives gained six out of seven council seats in the constituency in the local elections and gained 50 per cent of the vote. 

Last October MP Ken Purchase revealed his intention to step down at the next general election.