Labour shortlist for Cardiff South and Penarth by-election chosen

Alun Michael has been Cardiff South and Penarth MP for 25 years

Labour has shortlisted five potential candidates for a parliamentary by-election in Cardiff South and Penarth.

Sitting MP Alun Michael is giving up the seat in an attempt to become south Wales' first elected police commissioner.

He won a majority of more than 4,700 over the Conservatives at the 2010 general election.

Local party members will select their candidate next week.

Labour's national executive committee shortlisted Stephen Doughty, the head of Oxfam Cymru; Kate Groucott, a councillor in Islington, London; Jeremy Miles, a lawyer from Swansea; Nick Thomas-Symonds, a barrister and lecturer from Torfaen; and Karen Wilkie, acting general secretary of the Co-operative Party and based in Cardiff.

Dan Lodge, a former special adviser to Peter Hain, did not make the list.

A date for the by-election has not been set.

Labour's candidate will be chosen by the constituency party on 14 July.