Labour’s first openly transgender candidate Emily Brothers applies to run in Tooting by-election

'I can make a difference - having a track record in campaigning for equality and with personal experience of disability and going through gender transition. That demonstrates resilience'

Emily Brothers lost her eyesight as a child (Gus Campbell)

Labour’s first openly transgender candidate at the general election, Emily Brothers, has applied to be the party’s contender in the upcoming Tooting by-election.

It comes as the newly elected London mayor, Sadiq Khan, resigned as an MP on Monday following his resounding win at City Hall. Labour has said the by-election is likely to be held on June 9 or June 16.

In a statement Ms Brothers said she would be “honoured to represent” the people of Tooting and “pick up the baton from Sadiq Khan’s achievements”. She ran unsuccessfully as Labour’s parliamentary candidate at the 2015 general election – though, in the safe Conservative seat of Sutton and Cheam that is currently held by MP Paul Scully.

In an emotive 2014 interview with Pink News, Ms Brothers – who lost her eyesight as a child to a condition called aniridia – ‘came out’ as transgender.

“In an ideal world I wouldn’t be speaking out about my past because it’s very private; however I recognise that as a politician the key thing is trust,” she wrote at the time. “We have a situation in Britain where politicians have been losing trust with people, and if I’m not honest about my life experience people may be critical of me being secretive.”

Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, said he was “proud” and hailed her as a “courageous campaigner” when she was selected as Labour’s candidate in 2015.

Ms Brothers added in her statement today: “I’m very worried by the impact Tory austerity is having on hard working families in Tooting, particularly those disadvantaged because of their disability or older age. I want change, to turn people’s anguish into aspiration, by contributing to Labour’s fight back.

“I can make a difference - having a track record in campaigning for equality and with personal experience of disability and going through gender transition. That demonstrates resilience – the kind of tenacity needed for this by-election challenge and then holding the Tory Government to account so all Tooting residents are safe, better off and their housing and travel is more affordable.

“I want to reach out to everyone in Tooting, so we can build a better future together. That means focusing on improving people’s living standards, creating more opportunity in education and employment, providing effective public services and housing.”

The former Respect MP George Galloway, who unsuccessfully ran for London mayor, told ITV News last month he planned to contest the seat.

Labour will select its candidate for the by-election on Saturday