LABOUR’S candidate to succeed outgoing Southampton MP John Denham has been decided.

Rowenna Davis, pictured below left, will fight to hold the Southampton Itchen seat for Labour at the next General Election when Mr Denham stands down after 23 years.

The selection contest was an all-woman shortlist.

Ms Davis saw off tough competition last night from former city councillor Pat Everny and current councillors Sarah Bogle and Satvir Kaur.

Labour’s newest candidate is a journalist who is no stranger to politics as she has been a councillor in Peckham, London, and has campaigned against inequality.

She will face the leader of the city council’s Conservative opposition Royston Smith.

Cllr Smith was only narrowly beaten by Mr Denham during the 2010 General Election, who only held on to the seat by just 192 votes.

Speaking after her election by party members, Ms Davis said: “It’s an honour to succeed John Denham as Labour’s candidate for Southampton Itchen.

“We urgently need to make Southampton a living wage city, attract new investment and employment, build more affordable housing and support our schools to become the leading lights of the south.”

Rowenna grew up in London but knows Hampshire well as her grandmother lived in the county.

She says her politics came from her comprehensive school playground, where half the pupils were on free school meals and 52 different languages were spoken.

She was moved by the issues of class, bullying and family life.

A South East Labour spokesman said: “Rowenna will campaign tirelessly to make sure there is still a Labour MP in Southampton Itchen after the 2015 General Election.

Daily Echo: Southampton Itchen MP John Denham

Mr Denham said: “It’s been a real honour to represent Southampton in Parliament since 1992 having served as a councillor for 11 years before that. The city has been my home all my adult life.

“I’m proud of it and its people.

“The city has seen huge changes – the closure of Ford’s Southampton plant is symbolic of the move away from traditional manufacturing, but at the same time the port has boomed, we are a global centre for optical fibre, we have two fine universities and world class health care – and still build the world’s best hovercraft.

“With the Saints at St Marys, Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, and the Boat Show we are the sporting centre of the south.”