Nominees named for election

The two main opponents to the MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, at the next General Election have been selected.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have announced their prospective Parliamentary candidates to challenge Mr Mercer, who was elected as MP in 2001.

The Newark Constituency Labour Party has chosen Dr Ian Campbell (47) of Averham Park, near Averham.

Dr Campbell, a GP in Carlton, has experience in politics at a national level, where he has lobbied over health issues, and said he wanted to be involved locally.

His main area of interest is tackling obesity and health inequality.

Dr Campbell said he was passionate about education and wanted to work with the people of Newark to improve the education system.

“It is a real blot on our community that our education system is struggling so badly,” he said.

“There has been some significant investment but I don’t think it has been used to the best it could be.”

Dr Campbell said Newark had a tradition of very active MPs over the past 200 years.

Dr Campbell, originally from Scotland, has lived in Nottinghamshire for 25 years. He has two sons, aged 16 and 13.

He said: “I am a committed person by nature and I have not taken the decision to stand in Newark lightly.”

The party’s secretary, Mr Clive Wetton, said: “After a very good selection process with six very good candidates, Dr Ian Campbell, with his vast experience in the area of health and urban regeneration, will be an excellent candidate and will offer the people of Newark a real alternative.”

The Newark constituency party of the Liberal Democrats announced the selection of Mrs Pauline Jenkins as their prospective Parliamentary candidate at a hustings at Riverside Church, Southwell, on Saturday.

Mrs Jenkins (58) of Marrison Way, Southwell, was elected as a member of Newark and Sherwood District Council and Southwell Town Council last year.

Previously, she served on Southwell Town Council from 1999 to 2003.

A retired physics teacher, Mrs Jenkins first became involved in local government when she moved to Southwell from Lincolnshire in 1998.

She said: “I have found working as a local representative has been really fascinating and even more interesting than I thought it would be.”

Mrs Jenkins is a member of the district council’s planning committee and said housing was an important issue.

“We need housing, and housing that people can afford, but we need to do it carefully so we don’t destroy what is a very lovely part of the country,” she said.

“The houses need to be in the right places at the right price.”

Mrs Jenkins, originally from Liverpool, has three children, aged 28 to 30, a 36-year-old stepson and two grandchildren.

Her oldest daughter is expecting another child in the next two weeks.

Mrs Jenkins is married to Mr David Jenkins (62) a former professor in pathology at Nottingham University.

From 2003 to 2006 they lived in Brussels, where Mr Jenkins worked for a pharmaceutical company.

The Newark party chairman, Anne Wood, said: “In Pauline we have a hard-working, committed and enthusiastic person who has plenty of experience of life, and who will relate to the problems of ordinary people.

“She is also someone who is a dedicated Liberal Democrat, who can communicate the principles and policies of our party, and who would make an excellent MP.”

Mr Mercer, who was re-elected with an increased majority of 6,464 in 2005, has been re-selected as the Conservatives choice.

Mr Mercer said: “I am delighted that the other parties have decided to select their candidates and I look forward to getting to know them.”