LABOUR has announced their shortlist of candidates to stand in the Eastleigh by-election.

A TV comedy writer, a media entrepreneur and two Southampton city councillors are among those vying to be chosen by local Labour party members tomorrow.

This comes after the sudden resignation of MP Chris Huhne after he confessed to perverting the course of justice over a speeding offence.

A win for Labour would be the first time they have returned a member to parliament since the Second World War.

The highest profile candidate to throw his hat into the ring is John O'Farrell, who writer and sometime presenter for Have I got News For You.

Three other candidates also have a media background.

Mark Latham, a lifelong Labour supporter since birth from Eastleigh, has worked in network television production and will be standing alongside Caroline Penn from Brighton who runs a webdesigning business.

Sarah Rabbits is a communications professional and consultant who has worked from the BBC and grew up in Surrey.

Two of the candidates are currently councillors in Southampton. Cllr Andrew Pope represents Redbridge on the outskirts of Eastleigh, where has family and also where he works as in IT industry. He is also chairman of Southampton City Council's Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Darren Paffey is represents Pear Tree in the east of the city. He is also a lecturer in Spanish and Linguistics at the University of Southampton.

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