Lib Dems in West Worcestershire have unanimously selected a new parliamentary candidate to fight the next general election, former county councillor Beverley Nielsen, at a packed hustings in Malvern’s St Andrew’s Church.

She told the Worcester News this week that she is not discouraged at the prospect of contending one of the strongest Tory constituencies in the country.

She said: “I don’t think you have to look very far back to a time when the Lib Dems share of the vote was relatively strong, when Tom Wells contested the seat.

“The Tories may have recovered some ground since then, but in the currently febrile state of British politics, taking part in the process alone will broaden the base of the conversation.”

Among the issues that she considers important are support for local businesses.

She said: “Our region has the lowest levels of procurement from local businesses in the UK.”

“Our local businesses are feeling left out in the cold, while investment is rapidly exiting the country.”

She is also calling for an exit from Brexit and getting a fair share for the English regions.

“This needs to deliver a fair share for education-funding across our state schools and a fair share of funding across both the NHS and social care. The so-called £20bn Birthday Bonus will not resolve these problems and neither will it sort out the huge variation in the availability of GPs in different parts of England. There also needs to be a fair share to protect our elderly, vulnerable and left-behind residents.

“We need to ensure our young people get a fair deal and a decent launch into life – too many housing developments are not including enough affordable housing and amongst 25-34 year-olds, home ownership levels are at their lowest since 1961.

“The impact of austerity has seen huge cuts to council budgets. In Worcestershire over 70 per cent of council budgets are now devoted to social care and across the region we have seen some of the steepest cuts in funding for youth work.”

Chair of West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats, Dee Tomlin, said: “We are delighted with Beverley’s selection as our parliamentary candidate. She fought hard for an exit from the turmoil of the Tory Brexit and the damage this is having on the nation’s reputation, prosperity and prospects.”

Chair of the selection panel, Josie Wilkinson, said: “I am so pleased that the Liberal Democrat baton has been passed from one proud European to another. Our previous candidate and former MEP, Edward Macmillan-Scott campaigned hard for an open, fair, tolerant Britain in Europe. Beverley, too, is a proud European and has fought to remain.”

Mrs Nielsen works at Birmingham City University as associate professor of the Institute of Design and Economic Acceleration.