ON SUNDAY afternoon, Harlow Labour Party selected Laura McAlpine as their candidate for the next General Election.

Soon after, the former Harlow Council leader, Jon Clempner reacted to the news by tweeting the following.

“The likelihood of my standing as an independent candidate in Harlow at the next general election, whenever that is, have just significantly increased”.

Ms McAlpine was the candidate supported by high-profile left wing movement Momentum.

One of the reasons mooted for the Harlow Council leader’s swift departure was a clash between Momentum and Jon Clempner.

Jon Clempner said: “Those who follow my personal social media will know I did not react well to an active campaign against my leadership by a local Momentum organiser.”

Mr Clempner has never named Ms McAlpine as the “local Momentum organiser” and attempts by this paper to clarify this matter have met with a blunt rebuff from Mr Clempner.

However, there is clearly something irking him and it looks like he may well not go gentle into that good night.

One could easily dismiss this as bitter comments from the former leader but they may want to consider that he is a brilliant organiser who could well poll at least 2,000 votes plus at the next General Election.

It may also give him the imeptus to start a Harlow Independents Party of some shape/description that may, say some, be needed if a ruling Harlow Labour council takes its march leftwards.