Can’t say I am shedding a tear over this. I hope the next elected member will be more engaged with local issues.
I’ll merge in the chat we had in Local Politicos:
While supporting the opt-in politicos category part of me thinks news of our MP for 25 years retiring from public service shouldnt just be on the main site. Regardless of your political persuasion this is big big news. Subsequent debate might of course need watching.
The Labour candidate will apparently be chosen by a panel of the National Executive Committee rather than by local members, supposedly because of the short timeframe.
Wow. Just wow.
I imagine the NEC could select a Vacuum Cleaner as Jim Dowds replacement candidate and it would still be elected in our ward 
That is a shame. Mr Dowd always gave special attention to animal rights issues which frankly, in these selfish times we live in, are the only issues I have any interest in. He also always replied to any messages I sent him.
He will be missed.
Interesting thread over on the Sydenham forum where it’s claimed Jim was absolutely fundamental in bringing the Overground to FH and beyond. Something I wasn’t aware of.
Anybody heard any gossip about who the new Labour candidate might be?
No, but I’ve heard the selection will be done by the NEC rather than by the local party, due to time constraints, apparently.
This (http://www.jrc.org.uk/PDFs/ELLG-An-Enduring-Legacy-final.pdf) extensive report on the East London Line extension fails to mention him at all. Apparently the idea was first promoted in early 1997 by Lewisham Council, when he was an MP and the opposition’s Northern Ireland spokesman.
The Standard is speculating that it’s between Ellie Reeves, Vice Chair of the London Labour Party and Cllr Joe Dromey who has denied this on Twitter and is supporting Ellie.
With both parents still in parliament you can understand why Joe might prefer to wait to start his inevitable parliamentary career.
What have you heard Michael, if any
I met Cllr Dromey’s mother on Tuesday at a comedy night in Soho.
Spill the beans Martin
Gotta say as a trader “Who is Jim Dowd” He has never came to introduce himself to the local Traders.
Ask if he could be involved in our community.
And never got involved with any community events.
Happy forhim to go
To be fair to Jim without his support for the campaign by the previous FHTA Forest Hill would not have a Barclays Bank and he supported Forest Hill day every year.