COUNCILLOR Mick Lerry has been chosen by the Labour Party to stand against Conservative MP Ian Liddell- Grainger at the next General Election in Bridgwater and West Somerset.

Cllr Lerry, of North Petherton, is a councillor on Bridgwater Town and Sedgemoor district councils, and is leader of the Sedgemoor Labour Group.

He has lived in the constituency since 1976 and is sure to take no nonsense after working as a teacher for 22 years at the Blake School in Bridgwater.

Cllr Lerry represents the Victoria ward on the district council and served on the national executive of the National Union of Teachers.

He said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of being Labour’s candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset.

“I am very concerned about youth unemployment, and the need to make sure that women are not at the front-line of the cost-ofliving crisis.”

He said he is strongly in support of Labour’s promise to remove the bedroom tax and wants to abolish the misuse of zero hours contracts.

As a union representative, Cllr Lerry was involved in negotiations and consultations with Secretaries of State and Ministers, promoting education and the role of England and Wales.

He has held meetings with Shadow Cabinet members to ensure a community benefit from the construction of Hinkley C.

Cllr Lerry is a director of Homes in Sedgemoor and is on the board of the Victoria Park Community Centre.

He will also be standing against LibDem candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Cllr Justine Baker who is a councillor for Taunton Deane and Somerset County Council.

John Bryant, West Somerset Labour Party chairman, said: “Mick is a very experienced candidate who has spent most of his adult life in Somerset.

“He has specialised in education, local government and housing and has always taken a keen interest in local issues and concerns.

“We are sure he will meet as many individuals and organisations in West Somerset as possible and will work hard in everyone’s best interest.”