Copeland councillor Gillian Troughton has been given a second chance to run for MP just two months after leading Labour to a historic by-election defeat in the same constituency.

Meanwhile, former primary school teacher Ruth Alcroft has been chosen as Labour’s Carlisle candidate, taking on Conservative MP John Stevenson as he looks to secure his third term in Parliament.

The party announced its candidates for several key northern battlegrounds yesterday, including Carlisle and Copeland.

The Green Party has also confirmed that local activist Helen Davison will again be their candidate for Carlisle, having stood in 2015.

Labour’s Copeland selection saw Mrs Troughton chosen ahead of local health and homelessness campaigner Rachel Holliday, who also put herself forward for the Copeland by-election.

Mrs Troughton was originally chosen by local party members above favourite Mrs Holliday in the high-profile Copeland by-election in February but she lost out to Conservative Trudy Harrison by just over 2,000 votes.

When the General Election was called both women were keen to stand again but this time it was up to Labour’s National Executive Committee to decide. Many felt that Mrs Holliday may have got her chance this time around but Mrs Troughton has now been confirmed.

In Carlisle, there were at least three local names in the mix for Labour – with Ms Alcroft, a city councillor, chosen ahead of Paul Birks and Caroline Richardson.

Ms Alcroft, a mum-of-two from Aglionby, near Carlisle, said: “I’m delighted. I’ve been a Labour party member since I was about 16.

A few weeks ago I didn’t expect I’d be in this position but I feel ready for it.”

She told the News & Star the NHS crisis and education cuts would be key to her campaign, along with road links.

For the Greens, Dr Davison, who was among the organisers of a high-profile NHS demo in the city last month, hopes to build on her 2015 success, when the party ranked fourth – above the Liberal Democrats – in Carlisle.