NORTH Oxfordshire barrister Victoria Prentis, 43, has been chosen to stand for the Conservative party in Banbury.

She will replace Sir Tony Baldry, who will retire when Parliament is dissolved at the end of March next year, in representing the Tories at next year's General Election.

Mrs Prentis, formerly a barrister for the Government focusing on security and the military, was chosen this afternoon at a selection meeting.

The Somerton resident said: "It's very exciting to be chosen. We need to get going on campaigning, I'll be out in Banbury every day from now on. I want to meet voters and hear about their concerns."

Mrs Prentis said she "has been campaigning since before I could walk," due to her father's, Lord Tim Boswell, role in politics. 

Formerly Conservative MP for Daventry, Lord Boswell retired in 2010 to his farm in Aynho after being the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Remembering her father's first campaign in Rugby, Mrs Prentis said: "I was out with a ribbon and leaflets when I was just a toddler. There are some charming photographs." 

Sir Tony said: “I think Victoria Prentis is an outstanding choice as the Conservative Candidate for North Oxfordshire.

“Victoria is a person who in recent years has used some very considerable skill in dealing with some of the most complex and difficult legal situations faced by the UK Government. Victoria is now going to be able to put that energy, skill and intellect into helping the people of North Oxfordshire.

“I look forward to working with Victoria in the coming months to ensure that North Oxfordshire remains Conservative at the General Election next May.”

More than 100 members of the North Oxfordshire Conservatives turned out to choose in a meeting that finished at about 1:30pm.

Mrs Prentis, who grew up in Aynho, is mother to Tilly, 13, and Cressida, 11, and married to fellow barrister Sebastian.

Three other women were among the last four, Kemi Badenoch, Rachel Joyce and Helen Whately.

Sir Tony has represented the Conservatives since 1983. At the last General Election he polled 29,703 to second place Liberal Democrat David Rundle with 11,476, a 52.81 per cent share of the vote.