Angela Smith, who defected from Labour to help launch the The Independent Group earlier this year before joining the Liberal Democrats, is to stand for election in Altrincham and Sale West at the next general election.
The Lincolnshire-born MP has represented Penistone and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire since 2010, and before that Sheffield Hillsborough between 2005 and 2010.
But disillusioned by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, she left the Labour party to become one of The Independent Group’s seven founding MPs. In June she left that party, now called Change UK, to sit as an independent MP and last month joined the Liberal Democrats.
A remainer, she will now be looking to unseat Brexiteer Sir Graham Brady, who has held Altrincham and Sale West since 1997.
Smith said: “I’m delighted to be standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Altrincham and Sale West at the next general election, whenever that comes.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to beat a Brexiteer MP and the Conservatives in Greater Manchester. As well as leading the fight to stop Brexit, I will stand up for the people of Altrincham and Sale West in the face of brutal Conservative cuts to our NHS, police and schools.
“Labour and the Conservatives have consistently let us down on Brexit. Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to stopping Brexit.”
Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West, Jane Brophy, added: “She is resilient, dedicated, passionately pro-European and I can’t wait to help get her elected as the newest Liberal Democrat MP in the North West.”
