THE newly selected candidate who will defend one of Labour's North-East stronghold constituencies has been issued with an immediate challenge by an opponent.
Northumbria University lecturer Roberta Woods topped an all-female shortlist of candidates to succeed Durham MP Gerry Steinberg, at a meeting of city constituency party members at the weekend.
Mr Steinberg is standing down at the next General Election.
Carol Woods, who has been selected to stand again as the Liberal Democrats' prospective parliamentary candidate after emerging second behind Mr Steinberg, in 2001, said she had already written to her Labour counterpart. She challenged her to give the electorate her views on a number of issues.
"The issues of tuition fees, council tax and Iraq, are very important and the people of Durham need to know where Roberta Woods stands on them.
"It will be a two-horse race at the next general election. Only the Lib Dems can beat Labour."
The Lib Dems gained power from Labour in the Town Hall in last May's local elections.
A candidate is yet to be selected in Durham by the Conservatives.
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