A 36-YEAR-OLD university lecturer from London will be the next Labour candidate in MP David Hinchliffe's Wakefield seat, which includes Kirkburton and Denby Dale.

Mary Creagh, Labour group leader on Islington Council, will be candidate when Mr Hinchliffe stands down at the next general election.

She beat Wakefield councillor Olivia Rowley and two other candidates on an all-woman shortlist.

At the last election Mr Hinchliffe had a majority of 7,954. He announced last year he would step down, making it clear he was disillusioned with New Labour.

Ms Creagh, an Oxford University graduate and lecturer in management and small businesses at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, comes from Coventry.