Will Lewes seat prove to be an 'indicator of political opinion'?

MPs Peter Kyle and Rachel Reeves with the Labour candidate Emily Clarke

Castle Ward in Lewes has become an unlikely hotspot for political heavyweights as parties vie for the town council seat in the forthcoming by-election.

Lib Dem, Labour, Conservative and Green parties are all fielding candidates for the seat vacated by Oli Henman, the former Lib Dem parliamentary candidate.

Mr Henman has moved away from Lewes for family reasons. Labour candidate Emily Clarke was joined on a campaign visit by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves - who was in Lewes for the annual Speakers Festival - and Shadow Northern Island Secretary and Hove MP, Peter Kyle.

A window display in the party’s Lewes HQ was unveiled describing her community activism including testimonials from local residents about the work she has done such as founding the Landport Community Cafe and Lewes School Uniform Bank.

Rachel Reeves MP said: “It’s fantastic to be here with Emily today who I believe will make an excellent councillor and the first Labour councillor in Lewes for many years.

“She’s a great community activist. She volunteers at the local community cafe, runs a local business just at the heart of this community and as a local councillor she’ll be able to do so much more.”

Emily said: “It is great having Labour frontbenchers like Rachel and Peter here. It shows Labour is taking this by-election very seriously.