LABOUR activists have selected their Parliamentary candidate for the crucial marginal seat of Colne Valley.

Rochdale woman Debbie Abrahams was chosen to fight the seat at the next General Election.

She beat Halifax councillor Megan Swift and Joyce Swift from Aldershot at the selection meeting at Honley Socialist Club.

Current Labour MP Kali Mountford is standing down at the next election for health reasons. She had a majority of 1,501 over the Conservatives at the last election in 2005.

Ms Abrahams spoke of her delight after the vote.

“It is a real privilege to be selected as Labour’s candidate for the Colne Valley,” she said. “I know everyone involved in politics needs to build up the trust of the electorate and that’s why I will be out there talking to as many people as possible on the doorstep and in the community.

“I will be campaigning on the everyday issues that matter to people here in the Colne Valley, getting help to people in tough economic times, making sure our streets are clean and safe and the services we use are as good as possible.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Kali Mountford – a well respected and committed MP for this area.”

Ms Mountford welcomed Ms Abrahams’ victory. She said: “I have no hesitation in endorsing Debbie as the new Labour Prospective Parliamentary candidate for this constituency. She will be a real champion for our area and will do an excellent job. I’m really looking forward to working with Debbie in the future.”

Ms Abrahams is director of the International Health Impact Assessment Consortium at the University of Liverpool and chaired Rochdale Primary Care Trust from 2002 to 2006.

She was chosen from a women-only shortlist to contest the seat, which includes the Kirklees Council wards of Colne Valley, Golcar, Lindley, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Holme Valley North and Holme Valley South.

Colne Valley is the 56th most marginal constituency in the country and one of a few dozen seats which could be won by any of the three main parties at the next election.

Ms Mountford won the seat from the Conservatives in 1997 and defended it at the general elections in 2001 and 2005. However, she announced earlier this year that she would not stand again for undisclosed health reasons.

The Conservative candidate is former RAF man Jason McCartney who lives in Holmbridge, while the Lib Dems have chosen Clr Nicola Turner from Marsden.