CONSERVATIVE activists have this afternoon selected their candidate to fight the Southend East and Rochford seat at the General Election on July 4. 

Gavin Haran, who has been seen on the campaign trail in Southend in recent months, is an expert in financial policy and works at the City law firm Macfarlanes advising on financial services and investment companies.

In the selection battle, he was up against Alice Hopkin, former special adviser to Home Secretary James Cleverly and Stephanie Hedley-Barnes.

Mr Haran was picked after sitting MP Sir James Duddridge decided to stand down due to ill health. 

Mr Haran  came second in Lewisham Deptford in the 2019 General Election and has stood for council seats both in and outside London.

On his website, he writes: "I aim to combine real expertise with empathy, based on my background and experience with people of all types."

He faces Bayo Alaba for Labour,  James Allen (Lib Dem) Les Lilly (Reform UK), Simon Cross (Green). These are the parties to declare so far.

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