RACHEL Gilmour has been selected by LibDem members to stand for the party in Taunton Deane at the General Election next May.

Mrs Gilmour, who previously worked as Taunton Deane Council's PR, was chosen at the weekend to stand in place of current LibDem MP Jeremy Browne, who has decided to leave Parliament after two terms.

She said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to follow in Jeremy Browne’s footsteps.

" Jeremy has been an outstanding MP for 10 years. It will be a great privilege to build on his fantastic legacy.

"It is a privilege to be chosen to stand for the seat I grew up in. I will work tirelessly for the people of Taunton Deane in the coming months.”

Addressing the packed meeting of party members at Staplegrove Village Hall at which she was selected, Mr Browne said: “I am very pleased that Rachel Gilmour has been selected to succeed me in Taunton Deane.

"She is a strong and energetic candidate who will be a powerful champion for Taunton Deane in Parliament.”

Chairman of the Taunton Deane constituency party, Gill Slattery, said: “We are fortunate to have recruited a person of Rachel’s calibre to succeed Jeremy.

"Her strength of character, breadth of experience and the ability to explain and promote Liberal Democrat values make Rachel a very strong candidate and we know she will be a fantastic MP for this part of Somerset.”