LABOUR has chosen their candidate to contest the Meon Valley at the General Election.

Gemma McKenna, 34, who lives locally, will contest the seat currently held by the Conservative George Hollingbery.

Dr McKenna works at a Hampshire based young person’s charity. She is also a Trustee for a local charity who supports vulnerable children and adults.

Following her selection by party members she said: “It’s a huge honour to be selected as Labour’s candidate for the Meon Valley.

“The area is at the heart of what’s beautiful about the Hampshire countryside and surrounding towns, with a thriving independent business sector, farms producing excellent local produce and strong community spirit.

“But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that people are being hit hard by the cost of living crisis and are turning to food banks, rural businesses are struggling to pay bills, and older people are left isolated due to poor access to transport.

“There is also an affordable housing crisis with many local young people stuck in the private rented sector, being forced out of their home areas to find housing.”

The constituency strecthes from the edge of Portsmouth up to near Alresford.