WORCESTER’S Liberal Democrats have unveiled their parliamentary candidate for June - as well as the city’s Green Party.

Stephen Kearney, a trained actor and singer who runs a grooming business, will contest the snap poll for the Lib Dems.

The Worcester News can also reveal how Councillor Louis Stephen, who fought the 2015 General Election in the city, has been re-selected by the Greens.

The city’s Lib Dem branch has described Mr Kearney as “a breath of fresh air”, with the businessman tipped as one of the party’s rising stars.

Mr Kearney co-founded the UK’s Youth Parliament movement and has also worked with the Cabinet Office in a special project to train 5,000 volunteers.

He is a director of a Shrewsbury-based online grooming products company, a visiting lecturer at the University of Brighton and co-founded a London-based youth charity called Regenerate.

His colourful CV includes acting training in Los Angeles, resulting in him performing in several short films and stage performances in the last two years.

In 2015 Mr Kearney stood in the Devon seat of Tiverton and Honiton, coming forth with 5,625 votes.

He said: “I’m proud to be standing in Worcester.

“I am sick of the current messages of hate, pessimism and despair offered by the distant political elite - basic strategic thinking in Worcester is lacking.”

He also hit out at new housing development in the south of the city, including the 2,600-home proposed ‘super village’ behind St Peter’s.

“The city will soon connect with Kempsey because of development proposals in St Peter’s, the establishment parties seem to think another road is the only answer,” he said.

“The county has been shamed by Ofsted because it fails to care for children and our NHS is under threat - Worcester needs a completely different approach and I’m going to offer that.”

Cllr Stephen said: "We will be looking to grow our support, absolutely.

Worcester News:

"We will be using the General Election to get our message across on Green issues."

There are now four parliamentary candidates for Worcester in June’s poll, including incumbent Conservative MP Robin Walker and Labour Councillor Joy Squires, with UKIP still to decide.