Monmouth Constituency Labour Party has fired the starting gun on its campaign for the 2016 National Assembly election by selecting local party member Catherine Fookes as its Candidate for the Welsh election.

Catherine has lived in the constituency for 15 years and has championed change all her working life. She currently works as a campaign manager for the food industry and is a governor at Cross Ash Primary School. She grew up on a farm and works throughout Monmouthshire, so understands the issues facing local farmers and rural communities. She knows that many people in the area are struggling and need someone to stand up for them.

After her selection, Catherine said: “The Monmouth Constituency needs a strong voice in the Assembly and I can give it that voice. I will work to ensure excellent education for our children and young people, bring jobs to the area, improve the NHS and fight the cuts that are being imposed by our Tory-led council. I will work hard to protect the environment and argue for the things that people feel strongly about.”

Chair of Monmouth Constituency Labour Party Peter Farley, said: “I congratulate Catherine on being selected as our candidate. I look forward to a robust campaign to ensure that Monmouth Constituency has a Labour AM to speak up for our people and to build on the many achievements of the Labour-led Welsh Government.”

In the run-up to the May 2016 election, Catherine and her team will be knocking on doors and talking to as many voters as possible to find out about their concerns and win their votes. In her selection speech, Catherine pledged to harness the enthusiasm and energy of the constituency party, which has gained nearly 200 new members since the General Election in May.