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Clutch of Jewish MPs announce intention to run after snap general election called by Theresa May

Labour's Luciana Berger and Ruth Smeeth quickly confirm they will stand in June poll, as Conservatives Grant Shapps and Dominic Raab praise decision to call election

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Leading Jewish MPs Luciana Berger and Ruth Smeeth have confirmed they will stand for re-election in the election on June 8.

Ms Berger, who held her Liverpool Wavertree seat at the last election by 24,000 votes, tweeted: “I will seek nomination for Liverpool @WavertreeCLP, standing up for Labour values - the many not the few - on June 8 #GeneralElection.”

Ms Smeeth, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, will also stand again, the Stoke Sentinel reported yesterday.

Lee Scott, former Conservative MP for Ilford North, said he would be fighting to regain the seat he lost to Labour’s Wes Streeting less than two years ago.

Mr Scott, who was beaten by just 589 votes in 2015, told the JC: “I have had over 200 emails and calls from supporters asking whether I will stand again, and I am going to put myself forward to be the candidate and I hope to be an MP again.”

Andrew Dismore, the former Hendon Labour MP who contested two close election campaigns with Tory Matthew Offord in 2010 and 2015, said he was yet to decide whether to stand again.

The upcoming general election, which was announced shortly after 11am on Tuesday, will be the second in two years.

Grant Shapps, MP for Welwyn Hatfield, tweeted: “Strong decision by Theresa May. It will remove any doubt about her own mandate to take the difficult decisions now required.

“Rarely in history has a PM had so much to do and it is therefore right to ensure she has the overwhelming support of parliament.”

Mr Shapps also said he would contest his seat, but his former Conservative colleague Zac Goldsmith, who lost his Richmond Park seat in December, is yet to confirm whether he will run again.

Sir Oliver Letwin, MP for West Dorset, confirmed he will contest his seat if re-selected by his local Conservative association.

Ella Rose, director of Jewish Labour Movement, tweeted on Tuesday: “Ready to get back on the doorstep for our fab @UKLabour MPs across the country. The UK deserves a Labour government now more than ever.”

See all our Election 2017 coverage here

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