Matt Palmer and Mohammed Riaz selected for Bradford South and Bradford East

Zahid Iqbal has been in place as candidate for what is on paper the most winnable of the three Bradford seats, Bradford West, since March 2007.

Last night, Conservative candidates were selected for the two other Bradford constituencies:

Matt Palmer was chosen to fight Bradford South.

He is councillor for Wharfedale ward on Bradford Council as well as being a Governor of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and serving on the Executive of the Foundation Trust Governors Association, a national body helping Governors improve the way the NHS is run. He also runs a small internet business.

Labour hold Bradford South with a notional majority of 8,444 over the Conservaitves and Matt would require a swing of 12% to gain the seat.

Mohammed Riaz was selected to fight a redrawn seat called Braford East, which is based on the existing Bradford North constituency.

A former Bradford Councillor, he fought Bradford North in 1992 and then Bradford West in 1997 and 2001, and was third on the party's list for Yorkshrie and the Humber at the 2004 European election. He is the managing director of a healthcare company and owns a group of restaurant and shops, and also works with several charities to raise funds for schools, an eye hospital, orphanage and Umeed Welfare Trust Hospital.

Bradford East has a notional Labour majority of 5,227 over the Liberal Demorats, with the Conservatives in third place on 17.5% of the vote.

Jonathan Isaby