Government education advisor Pat Glass has today been selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for North West Durham.

She was chosen by Labour Party members from an all-woman shortlist following the decision by current MP Hilary Armstrong to retire at the next general election.

"I understand the area and the challenges we face. Labour has delivered a great deal of things for this constituency but there is still a lot to do."

Pat Glass

"I understand the area and the challenges we face. Labour has delivered a great deal of things for this constituency but there is still a lot to do."

Pat Glass

"I understand the area and the challenges we face. Labour has delivered a great deal of things for this constituency but there is still a lot to do."

Pat Glass

"I understand the area and the challenges we face. Labour has delivered a great deal of things for this constituency but there is still a lot to do."

Pat Glass

Members made their choice at a hustings meeting held in Consett.

Mrs Glass, 52, from Lanchester, County Durham, is a member of Lanchester Parish Council and is currently a Government Education Adviser for Yorkshire and the Humber.

She specialises in needs and disabilities, working with local authorities in Yorkshire to improve the achievements of pupils with special needs and disabilities.

Speaking after the result, Pat Glass said: “I am truly honoured to have been chosen by Labour Party members to be their candidate for North West Durham.

"Throughout this contest it has been clear that many people wanted a local person to succeed Hilary as the Labour Candidate.

"I was born in North West Durham and have continued to live here throughout my working life.

"I understand the area and the challenges we face. Labour has delivered a great deal of things for this constituency but there is still a lot to do.

"Throughout my working life, I’ve been involved in helping the most vulnerable children and I want to make a difference at Westminster in how we give our children the best start in life.

"Local people are also concerned about jobs and if elected I’ll do all I can to bring new job opportunities to the area.”

North West Durham MP, Hilary Armstrong added: “This has been a really good contest with some strong candidates.

"I would like to congratulate Pat and I look forward to working with her over the next few months. I am sure she will make an excellent MP.”

The other candidates on the shortlist were: Liz Twist, a Unison political officer for the North; Anna Turley, deputy director of the New Local Government Network and former special advisor to Hilary Armstrong as Social Exclusion Minister and David Blunkett as Home Secretary; Lisa Homan, a councillor in London; Lauren Todd, a 23-year-old politics student from Delves Lane, Consett and Ann Pettifor, an economics writer and commentator and co-founder of the Jubilee 2000 campaign for the cancellation of developing world debt.

The national party decision to impose an all female shortlist caused disruption amongst party members in the North West Durham constituency.

North West Durham Constituency Labour Party Secretary, Brynnen Ririe said: “I’d like to thank all the candidates who took part in the process. Members have took part in the selection to make sure we pick the very best candidate for the election.

"In Pat we have someone vastly experienced who will speak up loudly for the people of North West Durham.”

Ms Armstrong, a former Labour Chief Whip, had a majority of 13,344 in 2005.