A FORMER Tory MP who lost her seat in the general election has been named as Hampshire’s deputy police and crime commissioner.

Flick Drummond, whose work has seen her speaking out against modern slavery and calling for fairer police funding, has been announced as the preferred candidate for the role by police and crime commissioner (PCC) Michael Lane.

In her new role Ms Drummond will earn a taxpayer-fund salary of £63,750, set as a 75 per cent proportion of the PCC’s salary which is set nationally.

Mr Lane, who was elected PCC as the Conservative candidate in May last year, said: “I am delighted to name Flick Drummond as my preferred candidate for deputy police and crime commissioner.

“Flick’s depth of experience both as an MP, and locally in her many roles within the community, gives her the qualities I need to support me in delivering my Police and Crime Plan.

“I am looking forward to working with her in serving the residents of the Hampshire Constabulary policing area.”

The new deputy PCC role will see Ms Drummond running campaigns in support of Mr Lanes priorities and representing him at engagements.

Ms Drummond, who served as MP for Portsmouth South for two years and was previously a Winchester city councillor, said: “I am proud to be joining Michael and will be working with him to make Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton safer for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to help the commissioner continue his work and I believe that my experience as an MP and working with our communities can be put to excellent use.”

While an MP, Ms Drummond also chaired the all-party parliamentary group for cyber-security.

She used to work as an insurance broker, Ofsted lay school inspector and was a member of the TA Intelligence Corps.

She contested Southampton Itchen in 2005, coming second to Labour’s John Denham.

In the 2015 general election she succeeded the incumbent, Mike Hancock, as MP in Portsmouth South, having come second to him in the 2010 general election.

Labour’s Steve Morgan won the seat in the snap general election earlier this year.

The appointment is set to be officially confirmed at the next Police and Crime Panel meeting on October 6.