ANTOINETTE Sandbach has been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Eddisbury.

Cllr Sandbach, who is originally from Sandbach, pipped Janet Clowes, and Kemi Badenoch for the Conservative selection, which has been held by Stephen O’Brien for the last 15 years.

The final decision was made by the Eddisbury Association at a selection meeting on Wednesday evening.

Cllr Sandbach, Assembly Member for North Wales, said: “I am delighted to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Eddisbury.

“I now intend to be a strong local voice for all the residents here.

“I have campaigned on the challenges facing small rural businesses, particularly around broadband access and ‘not spots’.

“I am a firm believer of giving back to the community and now plan to draw on the expertise in the association to work on a campaign plan straight away, including issues around cross border healthcare at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.”

Cllr Sandbach has campaigned for the Conservative Party for the last 10 years and is a powerful advocate for rural affairs, having been shadow minister for rural affairs for two years.

A former barrister, Cllr Sandbach said she now intends to knock on as many doors as possible and be seen in every part of the constituency, to win the seat in May.

She said: “I want to work hard to help the Conservative Party secure a majority government in May to build on the progress that has been made by David Cameron and the party since the last election.”

Speaking to the Guardian prior to the announcement, Cllr Sandbach said she intends to ‘wear different shoes’ to Mr O’Brien, who is stepping down after the general election.

Mr O’Brien will leave his seat after 15 years as MP for Eddisbury to become the next under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, OCHA, and emergency relief coordinator.

She said she intends to ‘carry on with the work he did and keep up his work in the community’.

David Cade, Eddisbury Association chairman said: “We are delighted to have Antoinette as our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

“Stephen O’Brien has also said how he will also do everything he can to support Antoinette in her campaign.”