FAREHAM Tories have selected the person who will fight to keep the borough's MP seat blue at the next election.

Fareham Conservatives have announced Suella Fernandes as their parliamentary candidate for the constituency.

This follows the news that current Tory MP Mark Hoban, in office since 2012, intends to step down at the next election.

Thomas Fyfe, the Association Chairman said: "I am pleased that Suella has been selected by Fareham Conservative members to stand as our candidate in the upcoming general election. “Suella will be a great MP for Fareham and make a significant contribution to our local community and in Westminster.”

Ms Fernandes describes herself on her website as a barrister and social mobility campaigner.

The Harrow-born barrister specialises in planning law and read law at Cambridge.

She says on her website that sshe was part of a team that founded a free school in Wembley and joined the Conservative party when she was 16 and has been a volunteer for the party ever since.

Ms Fernandes took on Labour's Keith Vaz for the Leicester East seat in parliament in 2005.

Among others battling it out for selection were technology entrepreneur Nick Rose, of Bournemouth, and Donna Jones, leader of Portsmouth City Council.

Among Ms Fernandes' opponents will be Matthew Winnington, currently a Portsmouth city councillor for the Eastney and Cranes-water ward, who has been selected by the Liberal Democrats.