Local Liberal Democrats have announced who will be their candidate for the next general election.

Jenny Wilkinson, 49, has been appointed as the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for the Kenilworth and Southam constituency.

The party was represented by Cllr Richard Dickson in the last three elections, finishing second behind the Conservative MP Jeremy Wright in 2019.

Ms Wilkinson said she will be more proactive in protecting the interests of constituents and helping "create a brighter future" for residents and businesses in the constituency.

"I am delighted to have been selected to represent the Liberal Democrats in Kenilworth & Southam," she said.

"I am already meeting with and listening to residents across the constituency and will continue to work with individuals, community groups and businesses to build a brighter future for us all.

"We are living through the most challenging times and people across our towns and villages need a strong voice to stand up for them and represent their interests."

Midlands-born, Ms Wilkinson is a chartered accountant who specialises in tackling fraud and corruption.

She stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for West Midlands Mayor in 2021 (finishing fourth) and was previously a parliamentary candidate in Sutton Coldfield in 2017 and 2019.

Outside politics she is a mum to three boys and is actively involved in the community as a charity trustee and school governor.

She added: "It took Jeremy Wright more than two weeks to issue a bland, non-committal statement about the 'partygate' fines and the lies of the Prime Minister, urging us all to continue to wait for the Sue Gray report.

"In the meantime, his Conservative Government is devising inhumane and costly proposals to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, while spectacularly failing to adequately respond to the cost-of-living crisis and climate emergency.

"With local election results across England showing the Liberal Democrats gaining 192 additional councillors, contrasting with significant losses for the Conservatives, it is clear that voters are ready for a change." 

Liberal Democrats currently make up six of the 17 councillors on Kenilworth Town Council.

In the 2019 general election the party received 9,998 votes in Kenilworth and Southam, more than double the amount in 2017.

John Kelly, chairman of the Kenilworth and Southam constituency selection committee said: "Congratulations to Jenny on her appointment and commiserations to the other candidates.

"I'd also like to thank Cllr Richard Dickson who represented the party in the last three general elections, coming second in 2019 and re-establishing the Liberal Democrats as the principal challengers to the Conservatives in Kenilworth and Southam."

Updates on Jenny's activity can be found on either her Facebook page 'Jenny Wilkinson – Liberal Democrat' - @jennywilkinsonlibdem - or on Twitter as @jennywlibdem.