Tories could mount strong challenge to break Labour stranglehold
Wolverhampton South West was always going to be one of the country's most interesting and tightly fought seats at the 2017 General Election, writes Peter Madeley.
And that was before Labour's Rob Marris decided against defending his seat.
With Labour's majority standing at just 801 from the pre-Corbyn era, there will almost certainly be a map hanging somewhere in Conservative HQ featuring a large circle drawn around the constituency.
The Tories will benefit from Paul Uppal's decision to put himself forward for the candidacy. He won the seat seven years ago before 2015's narrow defeat.
Mr Uppal also knows the constituency and is still a recognisable face there, having campaigned in the city during the EU referendum.
He will be considered a strong candidate should he be selected. Meanwhile half of Wolverhampton council appears to have bid to replace Mr Marris as the Labour candidate.
At least seven sitting councillors threw their hats into the ring, none of whom have any parliamentary experience.
Whoever gets the nomination will have a big job on their hands to prevent the Conservatives from breaking Labour's stranglehold on Wolverhampton.
