Labour has chosen a borough councillor to challenge Watford’s Conservative MP at the next General Election.

Matthew Turmaine, who was elected to represent Holywell on Watford Borough Council last year, was selected yesterday to be the party’s parliamentary candidate at the next election.

At the last General Election the Conservative candidate Richard Harrington defeated the Labour incumbent Claire Ward, who had held the seat since 1997.

In a statement, Councillor Turmaine said: “I'm honoured to be Labour’s General Election candidate for the battleground seat of Watford.”