A FORMER shop owner has been selected as the Clwyd West MP candidate for the Labour Party in the 2020 UK General Election.

Joanne Thomas, known as Jo, moved to Ruthin, Denbighshire from Cross Hands, near Llanelli more than 15 years ago after marrying husband Gareth Thomas, MP for Clwyd West between 1997-2005.

The mum-of-two, who owned a ladies fashion shop, has been a grassroots campaigner for the Labour Party for about two decades and is vice chair of the Clwyd West constituency, but has decided "now is the time" to stand for the biggest role in her political career because she is "angry about the unfairness and inequality" she sees across the UK.

Mrs Thomas, 61, whose hair is currently coloured white, purple and green in tribute to the suffragette movement, said she was "honoured" to be appointed for the role and is focused on "rebuilding" Clwyd West and helping young people after Brexit.

She said: “I am honoured to have been selected as Labour’s candidate to fight the next Westminster general election in Clwyd West.

"We need to unite our communities which have been badly affected by years of austerity, made worse by their shambolic handling of Brexit.

"We also need to concentrate on creating more jobs and building affordable housing for young people to get their own roof over their heads. The retention of young people is not good enough because there are not enough opportunities.

"I have been campaigning and knocking on doors for over 20 years but now I want to take on this role with the way things currently are.

"I am angry about the unfairness and inequality in the country; it is the right time to do something."