Florence Eshalomi, the current Southwark and Lambeth Assembly Member at City Hall, has been selected as the Labour Party parliamentary candidate in Vauxhall.
Ms Eshalomi was confirmed as the party’s candidate for the ultra-safe Labour seat after voting by party members concluded on Sunday.
The Brixton-born politician said she was “humbled beyond my wildest imagination,” to have been selected as the party’s choice of MP for the seat.
“I’m humbled beyond my wildest imagination to be selected as the new Vauxhall Labour Parliamentary candidate,” said Ms Eshalomi on social media.
“This doesn’t happen to girls like me but I promise to be a strong local voice for all residents in Vauxhall – I’m ready to fight for Remain & a UK Labour Government.”
Among those defeated in the race were Katy Clark, a former political secretary to Jeremy Corbyn, and Claire Holland.
Ms Clark was considered the preferred choice of the party’s left-wing Momentum slate, having secured the personal endorsement of John McDonnell.
Kate Hoey, Vauxhall’s current MP, has served the seat since 1989, and announced this summer that she would step down.
Despite her strongly-held pro-Brexit views being at odds with the 79 per cent of constituents who voted Remain in the 2016 referendum, Ms Hoey was returned at the 2017 election with a majority of more than 20,000 votes.
Ms Eshalomi’s victory was welcomed by MP Helen Hayes, who represents Dulwich and West Norwood.
“Huge congratulations to my friend Florence Eshalomi on being selected as the Labour candidate for Vauxhall,” she said.
“So glad Vauxhall Labour has a #Remain candidate to fight for one of the most pro-EU constituencies in the country.”
A General Election on December 12 is now a certainty, barring a block by the House of Lords, which is very unlikely.