NEWLY-ELECTED councillor Edwin Northover has been selected as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the Leyton & Wanstead constituency at the next election.

Cllr Northover, who last month was elected as a councillor for the Larkswood council ward, will attempt to unseat sitting Labour MP Harry Cohen, who currently has a majority of 7,122.

Cllr Northover, 29, said:"Faith in politicians is at an all-time-low in Leyton & Wanstead.

"All the political parties urgently need to re-engage with the electorate to prevent us sliding in a state ruled by apathy."

In addition, to Mr Cohen, the other candidate to be confirmed is Pakistan-born businessman and former Mayor of Waltham Forest Farooq Qureshi, who will be standing for the Liberal Democrats.

A general election must be called by June 2010.