May 2, 2017 10.30 am This story is over 81 months old

Karen Lee named as Labour candidate for Lincoln MP seat

Local Labour councillor and former Mayor of Lincoln Karen Lee has been named as the party’s official candidate in the upcoming general election. The Carholme ward city councillor and Lincoln County Hospital nurse became active in the Labour party in 1997 and was first elected for the ward in 2003. Lee currently chairs the council’s Community Leadership Scrutiny…

Local Labour councillor and former Mayor of Lincoln Karen Lee has been named as the party’s official candidate in the upcoming general election.

The Carholme ward city councillor and Lincoln County Hospital nurse became active in the Labour party in 1997 and was first elected for the ward in 2003.

Lee currently chairs the council’s Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee and the Select Scrutiny Committee and served as Lincoln’s mayor between 2012 and 2013.

The snap general election was announced by Prime Minister Theresa May for June 8.

Karen Lee faces current Conservative MP Karl McCartney, who was re-elected for a second time in 2015 with 19,976 votes (42.6%), over Labour’s Lucy Rigby, who received 1,443 fewer votes.

Karl McCartney was officially re-selected to fight for the retention of the seat by the party last week.

UKIP have also chosen their candidate for the election in June. Nick Smith, who previously stood in the 2005, 2010 and 2015 general elections, will once again take up the challenge.

He received 5,721 votes in 2015.

Lib Dems are yet to select their candidate for Lincoln.

The deadline for nominations is May 11.