Markus Campbell-Savours has been selected to stand in the Penrith and Solway constituency at the next General Election, which is expected next year.

Mr Campbell-Savours, who is in his 40s, currently works as an electrical contract manager and sits on Cumberland Council, holding the Adults and Community Health portfolio.

He lives in Keswick with his wife, an NHS worker, and his two children, who attend Keswick School.

Penrith and the Solway is a large, new constituency and covers an area from Alston in the east and Maryport in the west.

Speaking after his selection, Markus said: "I am honoured to have been selected to represent Labour by members from across our huge constituency, that spreads from Maryport to Alston and from Dalston to Borrowdale.

"13 years of the Tories have hurt our communities in West Cumbria. Families here are struggling, with rising energy bills, stagnating wages and an NHS at breaking point. We need an MP and a Government that works for all of us, not just those at the top.

"I will now be out campaigning everywhere until the election is held with our message of hope for the future of our communities and our country, our industries and public services, our children, elderly, and our most vulnerable.’

He says his priorities are investment and jobs, with Cumbria at the heart of Labour’s ambitious renewable energy plans; tackling the cost of living crisis, backed by a home insulation plan that meets the challenge of rural housing; more funding for rural buses and local rail; truly affordable housing and a cap on holiday lets; and a recruitment strategy for the local NHS and other struggling public services.

Mr Campbell-Savours is the son of Lord Campbell-Savours who was the MP for Workington from 1979 until 2001. He will face competition from the Conservative candidate who is Mark Jenkinson, the current Workington MP after boundary changes made alterations to the Cumbrian political map.

Mr Campbell-Savours also stood to become the Labour candidate for the new Workington and Whitehaven seat but lost out in a controversial campaign to Josh McAlister. 

The latest polls indicate that if a general election were to be held today, Labour would win Penrith and the Solway with a majority of more than 8,000 according to an online election analyst. 

Juliet Wilson, chair of Penrith and Solway constituency Labour Party, said: "Our members have had hundreds of conversations with residents in our towns and villages since the news constituency came into being in the summer, and we have been greatly encouraged by the reception we’ve had.

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"The Conservative government’s time is already over. People want public services to work properly, they want competence and a government that’s on their side. Markus has been on the doorstep with us.

"He is passionate about Cumbria, he’s passionate about fairness and justice. He knows the local people and the issues facing our communities really well. He’ll be a great champion for Penrith and Solway in Parliament."