A JOURNALIST who has worked on various national newspapers is vying to become the local Labour MP at the next General Election.

Lancaster and Wyre Constituency Labour Party selected Anne Sacks, pictured, to be its prospective parliamentary candidate at a meeting on Friday.

She defeated fellow contender Sukie Sohal by 66 votes to 38 in the race to replace Hilton Dawson MP, who will stand down at the next election after two terms of office.

Anne, 49, is a journalist employed by The Times and part of Labour's European team in the North West.

Born and raised in South Africa, she has lived in Britain for 20 years.

Expressing her 'delight' at being chosen, she says: "I would like to pay tribute to Hilton Dawson, who is an excellent MP. He has worked hard for the people of Lancaster and Wyre and, if elected, I commit myself to working just as hard.

"I have been campaigning in the constituency since last year and my priority is to continue to fight for the people of Lancaster and Wyre and to take up the issues that matter to them.

"I will be living in the constituency and look forward to meeting as many people as possible in the coming months."

Anne is married with three stepsons. She has had a long career in national newspapers, including working at the Financial Times and the Independent on Sunday.

Hilton Dawson MP says: "I am delighted the Party has chosen Anne as its prospective parliamentary candidate. She has shown a huge commitment to getting to know the area and its people over the past months and has the energy and the skills to represent people well.

The Conservatives's chosen candidate is Ben Wallace, who used to be a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Speaking from his home near Lancaster this week, he told the Citizen: "Labour's London candi-date will have a tough time having to defend Tony Blair over the next few months but I look forward to debating with her the issues of the day."