THE Conservative candidate hoping to remove Angela Eagle from her Wallasey seat this General Election will be standing as a local councillor in Salford on the same day.

Chris Clarkson was chosen by Wallasey Conservatives in February to stand against the Labour MP – who has held the seat since 1992 - on May 7.

The 32-year-old, who works for Virgin, is also seeking re-election in the Worsley Ward of Salford City Council.

But Mr Clarkson says if elected for Parliament, he will hand in his notice as a local councillor.

He told the Globe: “This is the first time I have stood for Parliament and, if elected, I think my experience of dealing with a Labour-dominated council would come in very handy.

“As we saw at the last election, when the leader of the council stood for Parliament in Wirral West, local government experience can be an asset to the people you want to serve.

“However, I do believe being an MP should be a full-time job and so if I was fortunate enough to be elected in Wallasey, I would hand in my notice as councillor and also to my current employer Virgin and make my home in the constituency.”

Mr Clarkson is no stranger to Wirral and was a member of the campaign team for the Leasowe and Moreton East by-election in May 2013 that saw the Tories gain the seat from Labour.