LABOUR’S Parliamentary candidate for the York Outer seat has stood down, five months after winning a selection battle.

Fiona Derbyshire, who is also a Holgate ward councillor, confirmed yesterday that she was standing down, saying the selection had been a huge honour and this decision had “not been taken lightly”.

She added: “It’s fair to say I thought I was experienced in the knocks you get in politics, but this has been a lot bloodier than I thought.”

She said it had become apparent the position was going to demand more of her life than she could give, and added that between council work, campaigning and her day job she had been working 70 hour weeks since selection in December.

In 2017, the Conservative majority in York Outer fell from 13,000 to 8,000 and late last year city activists learnt the seat was being considered a “marginal” for the party.