Brinsworth by-election: Candidate selected for Labour

Roddison stepped down from his Brinsworth and Catcliffe seat on Rotherham Borough Council after being convicted of sexual assault in November.

The Liberal Democrats became the first party to declare a candidate for the February 2 by-election on Friday when they put forward doctor Adam Carter, while UKIP have nominated Steve Webster to fight for the seat and Shabana Ahmed was picked for Labour last night.

Ms Ahmed and Dr Carter finished third and fourth behind Alan Buckley (Labour) and Roddison in last May’s all-out elections.

Lib Dem Dr Carter, who lives in Brinsworth, said: “I am confident my record of campaigning locally will resonate in the area and give me a real chance of pulling off a shock upset and beating Labour.”

UKIP revealed this week that Mr Webster was their candidate for Brinsworth and Catcliffe, while Lee Hunter will contest the Dinnington seat on the same day.

The vice-chairman of UKIP’s Rotherham branch, Mr Webster finished second in the Rotherham West seat when he last stood for council in 2015, amassing almost 2,000 votes.

Mr Webster said: “UKIP are a strong opposition on the council and I want to join this team to further scrutinise the council at every opportunity and join in strength and support our other elected UKIP Brinsworth and Catcliffe councillor.

“A vote for Labour will just get the same party-whipped councillor and vote for anyone else will just not have a say in the Labour-led council and will be outvoted at every opportunity — how will this benefit the people of Brinsworth and Catcliffe?”

Mr Hunter was previously a councillor for Wingfield but lost his seat last year.

Mr Hunter said he felt Dinnington and its residents had “long been forgotten and neglected by a council that only cares about the town centre”.

He also said plans to build on the green belt would turn the countryside into “a glass and concrete jungle”.

Lib Dems first to name candidate in battle for disgraced councillor's seat