The Conservative Party has selected its new candidate for Bury South.

Arnold Saunders, a Tory councillor who represents Kersal and Broughton Park on Salford City Council, will stand for the party at the next general election.

The selection process has taken place after current Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who has served the area since 2019, resigned from the Tories in January last year to join Labour.

In a resignation letter, he said he "concluded the policies of the Conservative government led by Boris Johnson are doing nothing to help the people of the constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse".

Cllr Saunders, who is also a rabbi, was confirmed as the candidate after being selected by Conservative members on Thursday, September 28.

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He said: “I am delighted to be selected as the Conservative candidate in my home constituency where I have lived, worked and studied virtually all my life.

“I know people living and working here want a local MP to get on with the job and deliver on the government’s plans.

“The people’s priorities in Bury South are the government’s priorities and I want to help halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists, and stop the boats.

“I have a positive vision for people here and I am determined to take the fight to Labour and reclaim the seat for the Conservatives that we actually won in 2019 - before Christian Wakeford "crossed the floor!

“Until the next election, I will be working hard to show people here I am the right person to become their MP and help improve the lives of families right across the constituency.

“Bury South needs a locally based Conservative MP to help people there improve their lives.”

Cllr Saunders was elected in a by-election in March 2017 and then re-elected in 2019.

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