Luke Pollard secures Labour nomination for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Luke Pollard has been selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for the Plymouth constituency of Sutton and Devonport.

Mr Pollard will fight the seat for Labour at the next general election, due in 2015, after being elected in a ballot of Labour Party constituency members.

The seat of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport is held by the Conservative MP Oliver Colvile who defeated the sitting Labour MP Linda Gilroy at the 2010 general election.

Luke Pollard is a graduate of Exeter University where he was also President of the Students Union. He now works in tourism for ABTA and is a local Labour Party organiser.

He stood for the party against Gary Streeter MP in the South West Devon constituency in 2010.

He defeated Councillor Chaz Singh for the vacant candidacy in the ballot on Sunday 30 June.

Mr Pollard said: "“Plymouth Sutton and Devonport have seen the benefits of having a forward looking and effective Labour led council.

"Residents in Plymouth Moor View have benefitted from having Labour’s Alison Seabeck representing their interests in Parliament for eight years.

“I will be working hard over the next two years with our local Party and the community to ensure that the people of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, come 2015, also have a Labour MP to champion their views and needs.”

Alison Seabeck, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, said:

“Luke will be a fantastic campaigner that the local membership is delighted to get behind because of his experience and knowledge. He has already shown an ability to use social media and come up with innovative ways to highlight issues of importance to local people.

"His energy and enthusiasm is contagious and I am sure he will be out and about in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport seeking to meet and listen to local residents”