General Election: Labour shortlists four women for key Dudley North seat
A former Sandwell Council boss has been selected as a potential parliamentary candidate for a key Black Country seat.
Melanie Dudley, the authority's former assistant chief executive, is one of four candidates on the Labour Party's all-women shortlist for Dudley North at December's general election.
Ms Dudley left Sandwell Council in 2016 after complaining about bullying.
She was a potential Labour candidate for next year's West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election but lost out to Simon Foster.
She said on Twitter: "I am very happy to announce I am shortlisted as a potential parliamentary candidate for Dudley North.
"It’s where I was born and grew up. Dudley made me. If I get the chance I would like to repay that."
Key marginal seat Dudley North is currently held by Ian Austin, who sits as an independent after quitting Labour in opposition to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
The other potential Labour candidates are Sandwell councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Birmingham councillor Mariam Khan and Bristol councillor Carole Johnson.
A decision is expected early next week.
Confirmed candidates for other parties are: Ian Flynn (Lib Dems), Mike Harrison (Green), Marco Longhi (Conservative) and Rupert Lowe (Brexit Party).
Mr Austin, who held the seat by just 22 votes in 2017, has not yet decided whether he will stand.
