THE Labour party has finally adopted its candidate for West Worcestershire after months of speculation about whether it would field a candidate or not.

Penny Barber will do battle at the ballot box with Harriett Baldwin, Conservative; Fred Bishop, English Democrats; Caroline Bovey, UKIP; Richard Burt, Liberal Democrat; Dr David Simones-Jones, Independent; and Malcolm Victory, Green Party, on Thursday, May 6.

Mrs Barber, aged 51, said even though she was entering the race late in the day she thought she stood a chance of winning.

“I think there will be some interesting results in these elections,” she said.

Mrs Barber, who trained as an accountant and auditor, said she helped run a number of enterprises and charities which would stand her in good stead to help make government policies “practical” if she got elected.

Mrs Barber said her campaign would be focused on reminding voters what Labour had done during the recession, how the party had delivered new hospitals in the West Worcestershire constituency and how regional development agency Advantage West Midlands had created jobs and developed the arts in the area.

Mrs Barber, who owns a canal boat, admitted plans to build up to 25,500 new homes across south Worcestershire were worrying for some residents but added she wanted to listen to their concerns and help make changes if necessary.

This is not the first time Mrs Barber, who lives in Stourbridge, has run for Parliament.

She was due to stand in the South Staffordshire seat in 2005 when the Liberal Democrat candidate Jo Harrison died just before election night.

A by-election was held at a later date but Mrs Barber pulled out of the running because she could not afford more time off work.