DUNCAN Enright has been named as Labour’s candidate for next month’s by-election in Witney.

The district councillor also ran for the party in the General Election last year, but lost to former Conservative MP David Cameron.

It came as the Liberal Democrats selected Charlbury district councillor Liz Leffman, with party leader Tim Farron visiting Chipping Norton yesterday.

Mr Enright said there had “never been a more important time for Witney to have a strong, local voice in Parliament”, pointing to proposed changes to bring back grammar schools, the need for roads investment and ongoing fears about NHS budget pressures.

The father-of-three added: “This Tory government is doing immense damage to our area.”

But in a swipe at the turmoil surrounding Labour’s leadership election, Mr Farron said it was failing to hold the Government to account.

He said the Liberal Democrats were “stepping up” to the role of opposition, brushing aside a failure to win more votes than the UK Independence Party in Witney last year.

He added: “The question is, do people want the Conservatives to win again and be complacent?

“This is a great opportunity for people in Witney to send a strong message.”

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Tory peer Lord de Mauley urged Conservatives in West Oxfordshire to back David McFarlane, the local association chairman, as their next parliamentary candidate for Witney after David Cameron.

Local members will make their choice from a list of three candidates tonight.