Josh Fenton-Glynn chosen as Labour candidate for Calder Valley

Josh Fenton-Glynn will take on Conservative MP Craig Whittaker at the next General Election after being chosen by Calder Valley Labour Party members at a selection hustings at Calder High School from a shortlist of four.

He was born and bred in Hebden Bridge, before gaining a degree from Liverpool University.

He beat competition from Calderdale councillors Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) and Simon Young (Lab, Luddenden).

Mr Fenton-Glynn said: “I’m proud and humbled to have been selected to be Labour’s candidate in my home constituency. I love the Calder Valley but it’s being hit hard by this Tory-led government and it needs an MP prepared to stick up for local people.

“I will campaign tirelessly between now and the next election to win the trust and support of voters in every corner of the Calder Valley.

“Tory MP Craig Whittaker has let down the very people he should be standing up for time and time again. He voted for the bedroom tax, he voted for a needless and hugely damaging top-down reorganisation of our health service, he voted to treble university tuition fees, and worse still he’s an apologist for this government’s utter failure to deal with the flood insurance crisis.

“Through my work fighting UK poverty, I’ve already achieved more changes to the law from outside parliament than Calder Valley’s current Tory MP has managed from inside it.

“I’ve had enough of David Cameron’s constant attack on our living standards. Unlike Mr Whittaker and the government of millionaires he supports, if elected I will always put Calder Valley people first and will always be on their side.”