WATCH: Les Jones chosen to replace Afzal Amin as Dudley North Conservative candidate
Former Dudley Council leader Les Jones has been chosen by the Conservatives to stand in Dudley North after the resignation of Afzal Amin over his talks with the English Defence League.
Councillor Jones is considered a 'trusted' candidate having previously stood for Parliament in 2001 and 2005 in Halesowen and Rowley Regis.
Dudley North Conservative Association chairman Anne Millward said she wanted to see a local candidate replace Smethwick-born former Army captain Afzal Amin, who resigned this week following condemnation of his meetings with the far right English Defence League.
Councillor Jones represents the Pedmore and Stourbridge East ward on Dudley Council.
The association held an emergency meeting last night to replace Mr Amin, who resigned because of reports he had met with the far right English Defence League and claims he had discussed them organising and then calling off a protest march in the town in a bid to boost his chances in the election.
Dudley North is a key marginal seat held by Labour's Ian Austin with a slender 649 vote majority. UKIP's Bill Etheridge has been shown by an opinion poll to be in second place.
The association needed to have a candidate in place before nominations close on April 9. Mr Amin was chosen in 2013.
Councillor Jones was on the Tories' approved candidates because of his previous election campaigns.
He also stood in the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election last year.
Earlier this week he said: "Whoever replaces Afzal Amin is going to have to be able to stand on a record of trust.
"There are normal procedures for selecting a candidate but these are not normal times."
