Simon Danczuk could stand against Labour after quitting party

Simon Danczuk is contemplating standing as an independent candidate in Rochdale against the Labour candidate Tony Lloyd in the upcoming general election, a friend has told the Guardian.The former Labour MP, who resigned from the party on Monday, is consulting local supporters after the former Manchester police and crime commissioner Lloyd was selected by the party to stand in the town.Labour officials fear that if Danczuk stands as an independent, he could split the party’s vote, leaving a