Former Bicester mayor Melanie Magee has been selected as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Oxford East.

Cherwell District Council vice-chairwoman Melanie Magee was selected last night by the Oxford East Conservative Association.

She said: "One can aspire to achieve great things through hard work and aspiration - these are key Conservative values.

"I will use my skills to target youth unemployment. A key priority for me is to significantly increase uptake in apprenticeships and traineeships to develop skills of people in the most deprived parts of Oxford and to enable businesses to grow their workforce from local talent."

Mrs Magee has lived in Bicester for 14 years with husband David and daughter Dannie.

Oxford East Conservative chairman Mark Bhagwandin said: "In Melanie we now have a strong challenge to Labour in Oxford East.

"Melanie has the background and skills to identify with, understand and address the many issues faced by residents of Oxford East."

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Mr Bhagwandin said Mrs Magee was chosen at a selection meeting at the Cowley Conservative Club in Between Towns Road.

He added: "There were four good candidates including former soldier Leo Docherty, so there were a few ballots and Melanie was chosen as our candidate for Oxford East."

Labour's Andrew Smith is the MP for Oxford East.

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