A MICROSCOPE scientist from East Hendred will contest Wantage for the Labour Party in next year’s general election.

East Hendred parish councillor Stephen Webb is aiming to oust Conservative Ed Vaizey on May 7.

Mr Webb develops microscopes for understanding cancers at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Didcot.

In a statement he said he was passionate about ensuring people are treated fairly and “have a say”.

While welcoming jobs and affordable housing that come with new developments, Mr Webb pledged to work to ensure that they benefit existing local residents and protect the character of South Oxfordshire’s “beautiful towns, villages and countryside”.

He said: “Many residents feel powerless when their children cannot go to the nearest school, their village becomes a suburb and fuel bills become difficult to pay.”

The scientist said he was keen to ensure local people were able to travel to work, to the doctors and to see friends with less congestion, reliable public transport and upgraded cycle routes.

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has promoted Wallingford physicist Lee Upcraft, for the Wantage seat which covers Didcot and Faringdon.

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