The new prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for Maldon and East Chelmsford is Russell Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy, 32, has been a member of Chelmsford Council (St Andrew's ward) for five years and works as a senior lab technician for Britvic in the town.

He lives in Chelmsford with his wife of seven years, Karen, and their two young children.

Mr Kennedy was born in Liverpool and educated at Wells Blue School in Somerset and Essex Institute of Higher Education in Chelmsford.

He was chosen as the new candidate by members of the Maldon and East Chelmsford Labour Party yesterday.

He said: "I am delighted to accept the challenge from the Labour Party here in Maldon and East Chelmsford.

"We will now step up our efforts to keep reminding local people what this Government has achieved here."

Maldon and East Chelmsford Labour Party Chairman Alan Wilson said Mr Kennedy was an "outstanding" choice.

"He has a great record of getting things done and local Labour Party members will work closely with him to remind local people of the choice between Labour and the Tory Party led by William Hague," said Mr Wilson.

Conservative John Whittingdale is the sitting MP for Maldon and East Chelmsford.

Last week Adrian Longden, another member of Chelmsford Council (All Saints ward), was selected as the prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for West Chelmsford, the seat currently held by Tory MP Simon Burns.

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