Labour candidate for Bradford West by-election chosen

Mr Hussain was congratulated after his selection was announced at a meeting on Sunday night

The Labour Party has chosen the deputy leader of Bradford Council as its candidate for the forthcoming Bradford West by-election.

Councillor Imran Hussain was chosen from a shortlist of seven by local party members on Sunday evening.

The by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Marsha Singh due to ill health, will be on 29 March.

Mr Hussain, 33, a barrister, was born in the city and has chaired Bradford West Labour Party for 10 years.

Businesswoman Jackie Whiteley, who stood in Rotherham at the 2010 general election, will stand for the Conservatives.

Bradford city councillor Jeanette Sunderland is the Lib Dem candidate.

Also standing in the election are Respect Party co-founder George Galloway, UKIP's Sonja McNally and Dawud Islam of the Green Party.

Mr Singh held the seat at the 2010 general election with a majority of just under 6,000. The constituency has been held by Labour since 1974.