YORK Outer's incumbent Julian Sturdy has launched his campaign for re-election as a Conservative MP.

Mr Sturdy is fighting for a second term as York Outer's representative, defending a slim majority of 3,700 to keep his seat.

On Saturday, he launched his re-election campaign, pledging to fight development in York's greenbelt.

Just days before Parliament was dissolved on Monday marking an end to the term and sending MPs back to the consistencies to campaign for re-election, he said: "n today and am thoroughly looking forward to meeting more constituents on the doorstep.

“If re-elected I will remain accessible to all and continue to stick to my principles: Sensible development, a strong local NHS and improved transport and broadband infrastructure.

"It is absolutely vital that we finish the job we started in Government; eliminating the deficit, getting Britain back to work, and strengthening our economy so we can carry on cutting taxes and increasing investment in our NHS. ”

In Haxby, with his wife Victoria and his daughter Florence, Mr Sturdy spoke to voters alongside local campaigners.

His six point plan for the constituency puts protecting the greenbelt as top priority. He said he wants a sustainable Local Plan which "balances local housing needs with the need to protect our countryside", and has also set out his opposition to wind farms.

Mr Sturdy has also spoken out on the need for a solution to York's transport and congestion issues, saying the city is "grinding to a halt", his intention to hold advice surgeries and be accessible to his constituents, and the need for better broadband investment for rural communities.

In the last election, Mr Sturdy beat former Labour council leader James Alexander to election in the newly formed York Outer ward with a majority of 3,700.

This year, he faces opposition from current Labour city councillor Joe Riches, Lib Dem James Blanchard who is a Kirklees councillor, the Greens' Ginnie Shaw and UKIP candidate Paul Abbott.