QUESTION marks remain over who will appear on ballot papers in Basildon as the clock ticks down to the next General Election.

Voters will have their say on July 4 after the prime minister announced a snap general election on Wednesday.

But with less than six weeks until the polls open, large holes remain in ballot papers with the major parties still not declaring who will represent them in some constituencies.

With political forecaster Electoral Calculus putting Labour less than three points behind the Tories in Basildon and Billericay, it really is all to play for.

Echo: Stepping back - John Baron is not standing for re-election in Basildon and BillericayStepping back - John Baron is not standing for re-election in Basildon and Billericay (Image: David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA Wire)

But the constituency currently has no Conservative candidate as the party has not announced who will replace departing John Baron.

The Guardian newspaper reported in January the former Brexit minister David Frost was hoping to replace Mr Baron, hinting that the Tories could parachute in a big hitter.

Labour, meanwhile, announced its candidate as Basildon councillor Alex Harrison, who has represented the Lee Chapel North ward since 2021, in March.

Echo: Candidate - Alex HarrisonCandidate - Alex Harrison (Image: Alex Harrison)

He said: “The country has been waiting for this moment for a long time now and we need to make the most of the next six weeks to make sure the country gets the change it needs.

“I’ve lived my whole life in Basildon. I know the constituency really well, I know the people of Basildon and Billericay really well and I care deeply about everything that happens in Basildon and I want to try and make as much of an impact as I can.”

Elsewhere, voters in nearby South Basildon and East Thurrock are still yet to find out who Labour will be putting up against Tory Stephen Metcalfe.

Echo: Candidate - Stephen Metcalfe is defending his South Basildon and East Thurrock seatCandidate - Stephen Metcalfe is defending his South Basildon and East Thurrock seat (Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)

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Labour will be keen to put forward a strong candidate with Electoral Calculus predicting even tighter margins – with the Conservatives expected to secure a majority of just 0.2 per cent.

The Echo understands the Labour Party had announced on Wednesday morning it would be holding a selection meeting next month, which will now need to be fast-tracked after Rishi Sunak’s announcement.

Gavin Callaghan, the leader of Basildon Council’s Labour group, has ruled himself out of the selection process as he hopes to focus on his role at the council after being re-elected on May 2.

Echo: Ruled out - Gavin Callaghan, the leader of Basildon Council's Labour groupRuled out - Gavin Callaghan, the leader of Basildon Council's Labour group (Image: Gavin Callaghan)

He said: “As of now, Labour has a shortlist of two candidates and will select out of those two as soon as possible.”

It is understood one candidate is from Basildon and the other from London, but Labour has not confirmed who is in the running.

Liberal Democrat Dave Thomas, who was born in Southend but now lives in Norfolk, is standing in South Basildon and East Thurrock, and Southend High School for Boys teacher Edward Sainsbury is the Lib Dem candidate for Basildon and Billericay.