Marie Rimmer: Former St Helens council leader to stand as MP
A council leader has been picked from an all-women shortlist as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for St Helens South and Whiston.
Marie Rimmer, 67, who has been a councillor for more than 30 years, lost a leadership challenge on St Helens Council last year.
Ms Rimmer currently represents West Park Ward for the council.
Current MP Shaun Woodward, 55, will step down at the 2015 General Election after 13 years.
Ms Rimmer said: "I have lived and worked in St. Helens all my life and cannot wait to get to Westminster to take on these Tories who are causing so much misery for residents across this constituency."
Mr Woodward, who described Ms Rimmer as a "true fighter with strong values and a great sense of compassion", switched to Labour in 1999 after being Conservative MP for Witney.