THE Conservatives have picked their candidate to take on Helen Jones in June's general election.

Valerie Allen will be attempting to win the Warrington North seat for the Tories.

Mrs Jones had a majority of almost 9,000 in the 2015 vote and clocks up 20 years as the MP in the constituency on Monday.

Valerie,  from Warrington, is a parish councillor and vice chairman of Halton Chamber of Commerce.

She was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to the community.

Among her political achievements, Valerie was the parliamentary candidate for Sefton Central in 2015 and was recently appointed as the Conservative Womens’ Organisation Enterprise Director for the northwest.

Her political priorities if elected include plans to help boost the economy across the constituency, protecting the green belt and looking at ways to see investment in the NHS locally, ensuring that social care is part of the provision on discharge from hospitals.

Valerie said: “I am delighted to have been selected as the candidate for Warrington North and I would be honoured to represent it, working hard in Westminster to be a strong local voice on the issues that matter to our area.

“Every vote will count in this General Election to help strengthen Theresa May’s negotiating position on Brexit.

“So on June 8, the choice is clear, Theresa May’s Conservative Team providing strong and stable leadership for the United Kingdom, or a divided Labour Party, propped up by a Liberal Democrat, SNP coalition of chaos led by a failed and bumbling Jeremy Corbyn that will put our nation’s future at risk.”

Richard Short was the Tory candidate at the last election.

A spokesman from Warrington North Labour Party said: "By selecting Val Allen as their candidate, the Tories in Warrington North are demonstrating new levels of contempt for local people. 

"She spent the last General Election pledging her devotion to the people of Sefton Central, and the election before that promising her commitment to St Helens South and Whiston. 

"Her role with Halton Chamber of Commerce casts serious doubt over her commitment to Warrington North's economy, her business interests are in Widnes, and when she stood for election to the Borough Council here, voters sent her a resounding rejection when she came in sixth place. 

"Whilst Helen Jones and the Labour Party have been working hard for all 10 wards of Warrington North, this Tory candidate has seemingly been busy working in the interests of everywhere else."