THE list of candidates who want to stand for Labour in Furness at the next general election has been whittled down to four names.

After local branches nominated their favourites, the final selection has been made.

The four candidates have been named as Kate Love, Lee Roberts, Chris Altree and Michelle Scrogham.

The group will meet local Labour members at a meet at an event on Saturday and will then face questions in a hustings event on February 2, after which members will vote for their chosen candidate.

Whoever wins will get the chance to stand as the Labour parliamentary candidate for Barrow and Furness at the next general election, expected to be in 2022.

The current MP for Barrow and Furness, John Woodcock, was elected as a Labour MP in 2010 but resigned from the party in the middle of last year.

Chris Altree, a former soldier who lives in Ormsgill, was "deeply honoured" to be selected on the shortlist.

He said: "Labour values have sustained me from Furness to Falklands, from academia to Afghanistan. They are why I hope members give me the chance to represent Furness."

Kate Love, the women's officer for the South Lakes Labour branch, said: "It will be a close race between us and at this point there is no clear favourite.

"The thing I am hoping for most is to change the way politics is around here."

Lee Robert, a councillor for Barrow's Parkside ward said: "It was a great feeling and a privilege to have made the shortlist. I never had any political aspirations but I am motivated by a desire to not only help the vulnerable and represent those whose voice isn’t heard but also to ensure the whole of Furness benefits from investment and the opportunities here."

Michelle Scrogham said a key point of her campaign was a focus on high streets, saying: "I want to work with retailers, residents and local business improvement district teams and councils to rebuild the heart of our community." The winning candidate is due to be announced next month.