TORIES in Durham have chosen a barrister as their candidate for the next General Election.

Nick Cartmell, 33, who works in Newcastle and specialises in criminal law, often appears in cases at the city's crown court.

Mr Cartmell has never stood for Parliament before, but has fought three campaigns to try and get elected to Newcastle City Council - the first when he was a student. He is a former chairman of Newcastle Central Conservative Association.

Mr Cartmell is from Cumbria and was educated at Bedford School, Northumbria University and the Inns of Court School of Law in London.

He lives in Gosforth with his wife, Alison, an employment law barrister, and son Bayley Elliott, who was born in May. His hobbies are Japanese cookery and fell-walking.

He said: "I am looking forward to campaigning for the Conservative Party. It will be good fun I'm sure. I think the General Election will probably be held in June of next year.

"I will be surprised if Gerry Steinberg (the city's Labour MP) maintains his 22,000 majority. There is no reason at all why the city of Durham shouldn't be anything but Labour.

"Speaking to local people they have a lot of complaints - whether it's about the city council or the hospital.

"I'm a Hague-ite. I believe in Conservatism with a conscience - the free market and social compassion."