A potential Labour MP for Keighley has said she would not be afraid to tackle sensitive issues head on.

Councillor Susan Press, the present mayor of Hebden Bridge, is hoping Keighley Labour Party members will back her to represent them in the next general election.

Current Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer announced last year that she would be retiring at the next general election, so — if selected — Cllr Press would be battling against Conservative candidate Kris Hopkins for the seat.

Miss Press, 51, a freelance journalist, has spent her whole adult life as a member of the Labour Party, campaigning on a local and national level.

The National Union of Journalists member is already being backed by renowned socialist and former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn, who described her as a “first class candidate for Keighley” and a “genuine socialist”.

Miss Press said she joined the Labour Party as a woman committed to socialist values, peace and internationalism and those values had not changed.

All would-be candidates for Keighley will be meeting Labour Party members at an informal gathering this Saturday and a short-list of candidates will then be drawn up.