THE Liberal Democrats have chosen a York councillor to fight in Selby at the next General Election.

Tom Holvey will go head to head with Nigel Adams of the Conservatives and Jan Marshall of Labour, in the new Selby and Ainsty seat.

He replaces the Lib Dems’ original candidate, Nick Emmerson, who has moved to Hong Kong with his work.

Coun Holvey, who currently represents Dringhouses and Woodthorpe on City of York Council, said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been selected by the local Lib Dems to contest the new Selby and Ainsty seat.

“It is an area I know well through my work, playing sport and living near by. I feel privileged to help represent Liberal Democratic values in this area.”

The new seat is the result of constituency changes ahead of the next General Election, and is seen as a likely Tory stronghold.

Coun Holvey said: “Although we came third in Selby in 2005 it’s important to show that there is another more progressive way for people to vote rather than just for the same two stale parties. If people want real change then they have to vote for it”.

Coun Holvey is originally from Lincoln, but moved to York eight years ago and was elected to the council in 2003.