LABOUR candidates for the Copeland by-election have until 10am Monday to submit their applications to replace the Cumbria constituency’s former MP Jamie Reed.

The timetable, announced yesterday, will see interviews take place in London next week before final hustings begin on January 19.

Labour is defending its seat against the Tories after Mr Reed, who was elected with a majority of 2,564 last year, resigned his post in December.

The backbencher, a critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said he was leaving to take up a job at Sellafield nuclear plant and his resignation had nothing to do with his views on the party leadership.

Anyone who has 12 months’ continuous membership up to December 21 2016 can apply.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth visited Copeland on Wednesday to boost the party’s local campaigns, such as the fight against Tory plans to downgrade maternity services at West Cumberland hospital in Whitehaven.