LABOUR has selected a long-serving councillor to fight the new Selby and Ainsty seat at the next General Election.

Jan Marshall will fight the new seat, which has been formed following the re-drawing of electoral boundaries, but she is likely to be the underdog against Conservative Nigel Adams.

She replaces Wendy Nichols, who was selected in 2007 but stood down 14 months ago, following the death of her husband.

Ms Marshall said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been selected by the Labour Party to contest the new Selby and Ainsty seat. This is my home patch and I look forward to working with constituents on issues that affect them.”

Ms Marshal was born at Hazlewood Castle and educated at Saxton CofE Primary School and latterly Tadcaster Grammar School.

She gained places at Oxford Brookes University and John Moores University and obtained a BSc Honours degree in Economics.

She started her audit career in the Audit Commission, progressed within the National Health Service, and currently works within the heritage sector.

She said she had also carried out a considerable amount of charity and voluntary work.

She is a member of the Thirsk Regeneration Initiative, leading on projects to improve the physical character of the town and increase tourism, and was also a founding member of the volunteer–run Ritz Cinema, in Thirsk.

Ms Marshall was a Hambleton District Councillor for Thirsk from 1991 to 2007 and remains a town councillor there.

She is currently chair of the North Yorkshire County Labour Party and a keen follower of Leeds United Football Club, Castleford Tigers Rugby League Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Selby’s current MP John Grogan, who is standing down at the next election, said: “Jan Marshall is an independent, straight-talking Yorkshire woman with deep roots in the new Selby and Ainsty constituency.

“Given the boundary changes, which favour the Tories, she will be the underdog, but after many years winning council elections for the Labour Party in Thirsk she is used to a tough fight and is the ideal candidate to give Nigel Adams a real run for his money.”