THE CANDIDATE hoping to retain Southall as a Labour stronghold in the forthcoming by-election has been selected.

Cllr Virendra Sharma, (Lab, Norwood Green) was selected by party members from a shortlist of two candidates.

And Cllr Sharma, a married father-of-two, has said he will be fighting his campaign on the issues of better public transport, safe communities and affordable housing.

"I am proud and delighted to be chosen by local Labour Party members to stand for election here in Southall," he said.

"I have been a local councillor in Ealing for over 25 years.

"Ealing Southall is a very special place. Local people are rightly proud of their local area. I will be a voice for their concerns and aspirations.

"We need more affordable housing. We need safer communities. We need better bus, travel and tube services. I will champion these issues on behalf of local people in Ealing Southall."

Virendra Sharma, a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon, was chosen from over 50 applicants to be the parliamentary successor to Piara Khabra who died earlier this month.

It was exclusively reported in the Ealing Times yesterday that Labour leader Sonika Nirwal, who had expressed her desire to stand, had been snubbed by the party despite it being Mr Khabra's wish that he have a woman take over from him.

Cllr Nirwal says she supports cllr Sharma's selection - but also says his rival, Oxford-educated barrister Jo Sidhu, would have been a good choice.

"I am delighted that Virendra Sharma has been selected for Labour in Ealing Southall," she said. "I have worked with Virendra for our local communities and I know he is very able to stand up for local people.

"He is a good listener and will be a strong leader.

"He will be an excellent MP for Ealing Southall as he understands our communities and concerns."