Rishi Madlani wants to be an MP

ANOTHER Labour councillor wants to swap the green benches of the council chamber for the comfier seats of the House of Commons.

Rishi Madlani, who represents Bloomsbury ward, is on a final shortlist of just two possible candidates to stand in Leicester East. The constituency is currently held by former Labour MP Claudia Webbe, who was expelled from the party after a criminal conviction of harassment.

Cllr Madlani, who has worn a Leicester City football scarf in the council chamber in Camden before, becomes the third Labour councillor at the Town Hall to make clear their ambition to be an MP.

Environment chief Councillor Adam Harrison was one of the final two contenders in a race to be the candidate for a parliamentary by-election in the City of Chester earlier this year, while Danny Beales – Camden’s regeneration supremo was selected for the ballot paper in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. He lost a by-election there in the summer, blaming Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone for the defeat, but remains both the candidate there and one of Camden’s most senior councillors here.

Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Madlani enjoy watching a football match together

Sian Berry, Camden’s only Green councillor, stepped down from the council earlier this month after being selected to stand for parliament in Brighton Pavilion. A ward by-election will take place next month to decide her successor.

Cllr Madlani’s social media output was full of news from Leicester over the weekend, with several pictures of the Diwali celebrations in the city. In the final two, he is up against Rajesh Agrawal, one of the deputy mayors for London.

The Guardian was reporting last night that both Ms Webbe, a former Islington councillor, and Keith Vaz might stand as independent candidates against whoever Labour selects.