Brexit Party councillor Allen Cowles to stand as MP

Retired IT professional Cllr Cowles (pictured), of Whiston, is the Brexit Party candidate to be the next MP for Rother Valley.

The seat has always been Labour - held since 1983 by Sir Kevin Barron, who will stand down at the next election.

The Brexit Party won convincingly at the Euro elections in May and two-thirds of Rother Valley voted leave in the 2016 referendum.

Cllr Cowles, who moved from UKIP last month, said: “Democracy has been betrayed, the Tories and Labour have not listened to the people, and the two-party system is in need of reform.

“My priority will be local issues, in particular education which has been badly underfunded in our region and housing of the right type in the right place.

“It is high time for reform of the BBC and its licence fee, the civil service and long overdue reform of the unelected House of Lords.”

Cllr Cowles, who finished second to Sir Kevin in the 2015 general election, taking 28 per cent of the vote for UKIP, said he would also focus on scrapping HS2, halving foreign aid and expanding international trade.

Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice said he was delighted to support Cllr Cowles and added: “He is clearly committed to the values of the Brexit Party. 

“Allen’s political experience and knowledge of the local issues will be invaluable as we move towards an early general election.”