Labour has announced its candidate for the West Lancashire by-election.
Ashley Dalton has been chosen to represent the party following the resignation of incumbent Rosie Cooper last month. Ms Cooper, who has held the seat for 17 years, is stepping down to take the role of chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Dalton, from Lancashire, is a mum, carer and cancer survivor. She has spent 25 years working with grassroots communities in local government and now works part-time for a Lancashire charity.
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A spokesperson for the Labour Party said Ms Dalton's life has been about "helping residents and improving their local services". They added she is "passionate to do the same for West Lancashire."
Ms Dalton said she will campaign on local issues and tackle the challenges affecting the area such as food and fuel poverty, rising energy costs, fracking, community safety and fly-tipping. Speaking after her selection, Ashley said: “My offer to voters is simple.
"I will put the people of West Lancashire at the top of my priorities, in everything I do. I'll listen to local people and tackle the issues that are affecting us. I want West Lancashire to be a better place to live and work.
"The Conservatives are destroying our economy, our fuel bills are sky-high and fracking in West Lancashire is not the answer. The Labour alternative would be a publicly owned Great British Energy Company, reducing bills for families and investing back into our country. I will stand up for local people and be your champion in West Lancashire.”
Outgoing MP Ms Cooper was first elected in 2005, having previously served as a Liverpool city councillor from 1973 until 2000, and a year as Lord Mayor in 1992. A date for the by-election has yet to be confirmed.
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