FORMER left MP Chris Williamson says he is fighting to become Labour’s candidate in Oldham West and Royton as a tribute to his “political hero” Michael Meacher.

Mr Williamson is one of four candidates vying to be selected by local members tonight to stand in next month’s by-election, which was triggered by Mr Meacher’s death.

The former MP for Derby North, who lost his seat in May, said Mr Meacher had become a “friend and mentor” during his five years in Parliament.

He told the Star yesterday how he had often “chewed the fat” over coffee with Mr Meacher, whose office was next door to his.

The pair were also close politically, collaborating on a call for Labour to take a stronger anti-austerity line before the last election and the campaign to elect Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

Mr Williamson admitted he had been “reluctant” to stand in Oldham, having campaigned for Labour in his home town of Derby since he joined the party as an apprentice bricklayer back in 1976.

“It was a big wrench to consider standing in another part of the country,” he said.

“I only agreed to do so after a lot of people contacted me urging me to put my hat in the ring.

“There was a view that we needed to make sure there was someone on the ballot paper who shared Jeremy’s policy programme.”

And he revealed: “The thing that finally persuaded me — because I was incredibly upset to lose Michael, he was a mentor of mine — was that one person said there would be no better tribute to Michael than to try to carry on the work he’s done over the last 45 years.

“I’m not saying I can fill his shoes. I just hope to walk in his shadow.”

Mohammed Azam, the other left candidate in the contest, also paid tribute to Mr Meacher as a “giant of our movement” in a message to members sent ahead of tonight’s selection meeting.

“He was not just a representative, not just a powerful voice for working people, but a friend,” he wrote.

“Our community needs an MP who will continue Michael’s legacy and fight for justice at home and abroad.”

With Ukip leader Nigel Farage promising to make immigration the key election issue, Mr Azam also highlighted his experience of defeating the BNP in Oldham, where he was a councillor.

As a local candidate, the bus driver is now considered the left’s hope of beating Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon, who is the favourite to win the candidacy.

Jane East, a Christian Aid worker who stood in Colne

Valley in May, is the final

candidate.

With a 14,738 majority, Labour are 1/16 on to hold the seat, but Ukip came within 700 votes of winning a by-election in nearby Heywood and Middleton last year.

The by-election will be held on December 3.