A CANDIDATE chosen to contest a North-East seat in the General Election has promised to help the Prime Minister “finish the job of delivering Brexit”, should he be elected.

Simon Clarke has been selected from a South Tees Conservative Association shortlist to represent the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

The 32-year-old currently works as a parliamentary researcher and policy advisor to Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart in the Houses of Parliament.

Following his candidacy appointment on Friday night, Mr Clarke has spent the weekend campaigning in Guisborough alongside former MP for the area, Lord Michael Bates.

Mr Clarke said: “It’s an amazing opportunity for me to be the candidate for the constituency where I was born and grew up, particularly in this election where there’s such an important choice for the country to make between Theresa May’s Government and the alternative of chaos under Jeremy Corbyn.

“I think the major issue for this constituency is to give the Prime Minister the tools to finish the job of delivering Brexit.”

Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop has held the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland seat since 2010, however he announced on April 18 that he would not be standing in June’s General Election.