THE race to stand for Labour in Barrow at the next general election is hotting up.

Five people are hoping to contest Barrow and Furness for the party the next the country goes to the polls.

And several of those hoping to be selected have now secured the backing of local branches in the consistuency.

Chris Altree, who stood for Labour and lost to Conservative Simon Fell in 2019, has now secured the first nomination of the Barrow branch of the constituency party for prospective parliamentary candidate.

Michelle Scrogham, the mayor of Ulverston, won the branch's second nomination.

Posting on social media, Mr Altree said: "I’m incredibly grateful to have received Barrow Branch’s nomination for the second time running last night.

"A huge thank you to everyone who has, once again, put their trust in me to be your parliamentary candidate.

"I’m so proud to have secured the first nomination from a majority of Barrow members. Well done to Michelle, too, on securing the second nomination.

"Over the coming days, I look forward to meeting and speaking to many more of you as the PPC process continues."

Mr Altree also said he was 'honoured' to be nominated by the Dalton, Askam and Surrounding Areas branch.

The branch also nominated Erica Lewis, a member of Lancaster City Council.

Also hoping to be selected is Manju Shahul-Hameed, a councillor from the London borough of Croydon who came to Britain from Kerala in India in 1996.

And Tris Brown has worked as head of communication for Liverpool John Moores University, Head of the Mayor's Office at Liverpool City Council and head of public affairs for the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The latest polls suggest Labour could win a landslide victory in the next general election, expected to be held next year. 

One model said Labour could win 424 seats, a gain of 222 from the last election. 

Models also suggest Labour could win in Barrow and Furness with more than 50 per cent of the vote.