Musical chairs

So much for stories that the Labour leadership is hell-bent on finding Tory defector Alan Howarth a safe seat. While the Wythenshawe nomination for which he is bidding promises an easy return at the next election, there is a distinct complication in the shape of a sizeable field including the party's further and higher education spokesman Bryan Davies, who was squeezed out of nearby Oldham East by redistribution and is understandably keen to be a member of the next government.

Surely not even the newest of new Labour parties would dump the current higher education spokesman for someone who did the job four years ago for the Tories -would they?