UKIP has chosen Annette Reid as the person to face the wrath of Selhurst ward’s Council Tax-payers, many of them angered that they could face an unnecessary bill of £20,000 for having to go to the polling stations on March 5 for a by-election.

In all, fewer than 20 local Kippers gathered in a South Croydon curry house on Monday and selected Reid ahead of Emmanuel Ehirim, one of local UKIP’s tactless troika who made the premature demand to stage the council ward by-election.

The by-election was called following the death last month of long-standing councillor, Gerry Ryan.

Three local UKIP members – Ehirim, Peter Morgan and Janet Stollery – courted controversy, and widespread condemnation, when they called for the by-election before the councillor’s funeral.

By being held separately – rather than waiting until May’s General Election – the by-election could end up costing Croydon Council Tax-payers up to £20,000 for what all parties privately admit is a political foregone conclusion.

Reid already has experience of standing for election in the north of the borough, and losing badly. Last May, she was a candidate in South Norwood ward in the Town Hall elections, when 437 from an electorate of nearly 12,000 voted for her. Reid did have a major hindrance to her campaign: she was on the ballot paper together with the “Chump from the Dump”, Winston McKenzie.

Selhurst is a safe Labour ward, and David Wood, selected earlier this week, should be returned as a new councillor with little trouble.

The Conservatives have selected Tirena Gunter.

We sought the identity of the LibDem candidate in Selhurst ward, but a senior member of their local party said, “We are putting up a candidate in Selhurst but the short notice has meant a lot of work to get the admin done. Should be announced soon.” They’d better hurry: candidates have to be registered with the council by a deadline today.

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