The Labour MP for Oldham West & Royston Michael Meacher has died, aged 75. According to the Oldham Chronicle, he passed away after suffering from a short illness.
A committed environmentalist, he had leadership ambitions and made them to Spectator readers seven years ago. He was one of the 36 MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader this year — there was some surprise as to why Meacher wasn’t given a position in Corbyn’s shadow cabinet but his recent illness may explain why.
His passing means the first by-election of this Parliament is upon us and the first electoral test of Corbyn’s Labour. Although Meacher returned the seat at May’s general election with a huge 14,738 majority at the last election, 55 per cent of the vote, Ukip came second with 21 per cent. Statistically, the by-election ought to be a walkover for Labour — but strange things happen in elections nowadays.
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