A council leader has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next MP in Altrincham and Sale West.

Coun Andrew Western, leader of Trafford Council, kick-started his bid to unseat Conservative Sir Graham Brady in any upcoming general election from the constituency with a promise to “defeat our out of touch Tory MP.”

In the 2017 election, Coun Western came second to Sir Graham Brady, with just over 6,000 votes separating them.

In a Facebook post, Coun Western said: “Residents often ask me why I’m standing for Altrincham and Sale West in any forthcoming election. I always say, honestly, that it’s my home town and I care about the area and the people who live here – but it’s about more than that for me.

“It’s because I fundamentally disagree with our current Tory MP on so many issues.

“There are only 6,000 or so votes between Labour and the Tories in Altrincham and Sale West I’ll be working around the clock when any election comes to become the first ever Labour MP in the constituency.

“As a lifelong local resident and Leader of the council I care passionately about our area.”

Coun Western has been leader of Trafford Council since the May 2019 local election.

Sir Graham Brady said: “People normally find me an open and approachable person, so its not just my regular advice surgeries or visits to schools, hospitals or businesses that keep me informed about local issues, constituents will stop for a chat when they see me in the supermarket too.

“There is real concern that a Corbyn government would destroy our fantastic schools and that its hard left agenda would be a disaster for business and for the living standards of local people.”

Both men will be running against former Labour MP Angela Smith, who was a founding member of the new Change UK party before she joined the Liberal Democrats last month.

Ms Smith used to represent Penistone and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire, but told the BBC she is now ready to “take the fight to the Tories in Altrincham and Sale West and finish the job to stop Brexit”.