Labour picks Horsham candidate for General Election

David Hide pictured with Labour's candidate for Horsham in the 2015 General Election Martyn Davis (submitted). SUS-150402-094837001

Labour has picked its parliamentary candidate to contest this year’s General Election in Horsham.

Martyn Davis was selected by the Horsham Labour Party at a recent meeting held at Roffey Millennium Hall.

This follows the news this week that Conservative current Horsham MP Francis Maude will not be seeking re-election in May as he believed ‘now is the right time to make way for a younger candidate to carry the Conservative flag in Horsham’.

Since leaving university Mr Davis has worked in education, recently acting as an interim principal of a residential college for students with severe behaviour problems. Since 2004 he has been a freelance education consultant.

Mr Davis said: “I will show the constituency that a Labour Member of Parliament will ensure that the issues that matter in Horsham are highlighted and fought for and not ignored. I will always put Horsham first.”

Mr Davis has served previously as a Labour councillor and is married to Tracey, who also works in education as a teacher.

He believes strongly in affordable housing, healthcare and education for all.

Labour’s candidate at the previous General Election in 2010 Andrew Skudder polled 4,189 votes, a 7.5 per cent share, in third place behind Liberal Democrat candidate Godfrey Newman and Mr Maude.

The other announced candidates for May’s elections are Roger Arthur, a UKIP Horsham district councillor, James Smith of Something New for Horsham Party, and Darrin Green, of the Green Party.