This afternoon, Gagan Mohindra was selected as Conservative candidate for North Tyneside.
He is a self-employed businessman who is a Parish Councillor in Chigwell, Essex, and a member of Epping Forest District Council.
I gather that in the final round of voting he fought off a very strong local candidate in Cllr Judith Wallace, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside Council.
Commenting on his selection, Gagan said that he was looking forward to the enormous challenge ahead:
"Success with Linda Arkley at the Mayoral Elections in June demonstrated that the Conservatives can win in North Tyneside and I look forward to working with our councillors in Weetslade, Killingworth and Benton. Labour have take the North East and North Tyneside in particular for granted for too long."
North Tyneside is the seat being vacated by former Cabinet minister, Stephen Byers, who bequeaths a notional Labour majority of 14,929 over the Lib Dems. The Conservatives begin in third place on 18%.
Jonathan Isaby
