Julie Rook selected for Wolverhampton North East

Julie Rook has been selected to contest Wolverhampton North East at the next general election. A 43-year-old businesswoman, she grew up in Kent is currently a councillor in Dover. She is married to a butcher and has two grown up children, one of whom is a fresher at the University of Birmingham.

The seat has been held for Labour since 1992 by Ken Purchase, who is standing down at the next election. After minor boundary changes, his replacement as Labour candidate, Emma Reynolds, will be defending a notional majority of 8,628, according to the calculations of Professors Rallings and Thrasher of the University of Plymouth.

Julie requires a swing of 12.5% to take the seat, which was last held for the Conservatives between 1987 and 1992 by Maureen Hicks.