General Election: Trade unionist hospital nurse Eleanor Smith selected as Wolverhampton Labour candidate
A trade unionist hospital nurse has been selected to contest the key Labour marginal of Wolverhampton South West in the June election.
Eleanor Smith, who became the first ever black woman president of Unison in 2011/12 and is a theatre nurse, will seek to protect Labour's 801 majority in the seat.
Earlier this month, the current Labour MP Rob Marris announced he would not be seeking re-election in what is forecast to be a tightly fought contest with the Conservatives in the key Midlands battleground.
The Tories have selected the constituency's former MP Paul Uppal to stand in the seat he lost to Mr Marris in the 2015 general election.
He was one of only 10 Conservative MPs to lose their seats that year.
Ms Smith, a long-standing Labour activist who works at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said it was "an absolute privilege" to be selected.
She praised the record of Mr Marris and said the NHS would be at the heart of Labour's campaigning.
Ms Smith added: "I've worked in the NHS for decades and I've seen first-hand how the Tories are taking the country backwards.
"The NHS is at breaking point - it is under-funded and under-staffed and staff morale is at an all-time low.
"Labour has promised to scrap the pay cap for NHS staff and give them the respect they deserve."
Mr Marris - who himself lost the seat to Mr Uppal at the 2010 general election before re-taking the constituency five years later - announced on April 19 he would not seek re-election.
Sarah Quarmby is set to stand for the Liberal Democrats.
Mr Uppal said he was "delighted to be given the opportunity to once again represent Wolverhampton South West in Parliament".
He cited his "solid track record of delivery" for the city, pointing to the £26 million of Government funding for transport, culture and skills handed to Wolverhampton during his previous term between 2010-15.
The married father-of-three vowed to "once again champion the needs" of the city, and secure further investment.
He added: "This election in Wolverhampton South West is also very important nationally.
"Only by voting Conservative can you secure the strong and stable leadership that comes from having Theresa May in Downing Street."
