A FORMER head teacher who has campaigned against Keighley's planned waste to energy incinerator has been selected as the Green Party's Parliamentary candidate for Keighley and Ilkley.

Dr Ros Brown will stand for the constituency at the June 8 General Election.

Dr Brown, who contested the seat in 2015, has welcomed her selection but also called on other parties to work together to "fight for change".

She said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be selected but like many local people we are disappointed that our invitation to work together was dismissed by the Yorkshire and Humber Labour Party spokesperson.

"Our invitation to reach an agreement with local constituency Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, where some candidates could step down to enable others to easily take on sitting MP Kris Hopkins, is still open.

"As a local resident I’ve campaigned passionately against the Aire Valley incinerator [at Marley, Keighley] alongside local Labour Party supporters and a wide range of others from different political backgrounds and none.

"We need to see this same commitment from Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates to actively, urgently and publicly fight against the building and operating of the incinerator, and for proportional representation in future elections.

"We think this is significant heading into Brexit negotiations where environmental issues and a healthy democracy are central considerations."

Dr Brown, who lives in Ben Rhydding, said ensuring Brexit worked for the Keighley area was a key priority.

She said: “The people of Keighley voted to leave the EU, but they did not all vote to abandon the environmental and worker protections the EU offers, nor did they all support the harsh trade and immigration terms the hard-Brexit obsessed government are hoping to push through.

"As a Green candidate without a Parliamentary whip, I would be free to do my best to listen to, work with and represent everyone in our diverse constituency."

She added that as a former primary school head she was also campaigning to end public service cuts. She said: “I know what it’s like as a head teacher to build a great team only to be forced to make redundancies when budgets are reduced.

"Locally we’ve seen schools facing impossible choices, emergency services cut back, community buildings closed and the NHS brought to the brink of collapse.

"Rather than pushing the blame onto immigration and the EU, we need leaders who are going to invest in and protect services during the changes Brexit will bring to build a society that’s for the common good."

Co-chairs of Keighley and Ilkley Green Party, Janet Russell and Siân Levy, said: "As a highly capable and committed educationalist Ros has the passion and experience to push for the best start for all children and young people in the constituency and we welcome her selection."