Sandwell councillor Preet Gill has been selected as Labour's candidate in the marginal seat of Edgbaston for the 2017 general election .

She was chosen by the party to replace Gisela Stuart, the former Labour MP, who has stood down.

But she could face a tough battle, as Labour won Edgbaston with a majority of just 2,706 in 2015 and Conservatives may be in with a chance of taking the seat in the election on June 8.

Ms Gill, 44, is Sandwell's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection. She was born and raised in Edgbaston and is an active member of the Sikh Network, a network of Sikh activists an professionals.

She said: "I am delighted to have been chosen as Labour's candidate for Birmingham Edgbaston.

Preet Gill, Labour's candidate for Birmingham Edgbaston in the 2017 general election

"I am from Edgbaston and it would be a huge honour to become the next MP for the place where I was born and raised.

"I want to give my thanks to Gisela Stuart who has been a superb Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston for the last 20 years and I wish her all the best for the future.

"This election is a clear choice between a Labour Party who will stand up for Birmingham Edgbaston and a Tory Party who are failing working people across our great city.

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"The Tories are taking the country backwards; despite Tory promises of ‘fairer funding’, our schools are seeing huge budget cuts and our local NHS is at breaking point."

Referring to the wards that make up the Edgbaston constituency, she said: “People in Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton need a Labour MP more than ever; to stand up for them – by introducing a Living Wage of £10 an hour, giving the NHS the money it needs, and by properly funding schools to do the best by our children."

Mrs Stuart, who is standing down after 20 years as an MP, said: "Congratulations to Preet on being selected as Labour's candidate for Birmingham Edgbaston. Preet will stand up for people of Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton and be a strong champion for the our city.

"We cannot let the Tories destroy our communities and public services. Labour has a better plan - to fund our NHS, to build the council houses we need and to give children the best start in life. I know that Preet will put the people of Birmingham Edgbaston first and she will make a fantastic MP."

Edgbaston has been represented by a female MP - including Conservative and Labour politicians - since 1953.

It was once seen as a safe Conservative constituency and Ms Stuart's win for Labour in 1997 came as a surprise. However, Tory attempts to take the seat back have failed, and in 2015 the Conservatives chose to focus on Birmingham Northfield instead.

This time, however, Tories believe they may have a better chance in Edgbaston because opinion polls suggest Labour's support has fallen significantly.