Now that the shortlist is agreed we can concentrate on the real issue of who should be selected. The speeches from the three front runners last night were interesting. Maybe I am biased but thought Christine performed the best and seemed most relaxed in front of the GC. Lilian's speech was also decent and it was good to highlight issues around the NHS, although from a UNISON official not unexpected. Did others think Katrinia's a bit weak - heavy on naming parts of the constituency but weak on policy. She wants to be a critical friend to the Government - is that code for make me a Minister?

Lowdown on the candidates at selection
Katrina - v nervous (not like her at all) and flustered in some answers.
Christina - like she had it in the bag already, v casual, v jokey, and came over as flippant to those that didn't know her, didn't fill her 4min presentation with enough relevant messages (used up valuable time with anecdotes about family and poorness of microphone etc...). Ummed and ahhhed a lot in Q&A. 
Lilian - outstanding candidate of the evening, polished performance, obvious she could sway non-Lab voters as well as party member and showed she was prepared to put the legwork in before tonights meeting. Alan Simpson tried to throw her with a tricky question and she swatted him deftly away.
Lilian took it on the second round of balloting and I'm over the moon.

I voted for Christine, but Party members decided otherwise. That's democracy. WolW's comments are fair. Now, Lillian has my full support and I look forward to working with her. She has been tenacious and determined throughout the campaign and I admire her for that. Her commitment to low paid workers and the venerable is beyond question. I am sure she will also pick up on Alan's green agenda.

Alan's speech whilst the votes were being counted addressed issues which cannot be ignored: poverty, the environment, Nottingham's governance and 'toxic debt'. For me it was the moment when he was handing the baton and the challenges onto us as a Party and to his successor.

For the last few years Nottingham South CLP and the branches have been sustained by a few activists who have, for the most part been Alan (and Christine) supporters and I think the nominations voting reflected this. Through her doggedness Lillian has reached Party members others have not reached. Now Lillian with our help needs to get these members attending branch meetings and helping in the campaign to ensure she wins Nottingham South at the next election. I'm sure she can do it.