EXCLUSIVE: The Liberal Democrats' Parliamentary candidate to fight the Hitchin seat at the next General Election has officially been decided - with Nub News first with the story.

Nub News can exclusively reveal that Hitchin councillor Sam Collins will be the Lib Dems candidate to fight our town's Parliamentary seat.

While the next General Election is still more than two years away - and with possible boundary changes yet to be confirmed - the Hitchin seat is still expected to be a battle between present incumbent Bim Afolami MP and councillor Collins.

Speaking after Nub News contacted Mr Collins for comment, he said: "I'm really pleased that the Lib Dems in Hitchin, Harpenden and right across the area felt that I was the right person to take on the Conservative MP here and be the next member of Parliament for our area.

"People really do want someone local who is willing to listen and to act.

"They want someone who will always put the interests of our area and this constituency first, ahead of any career or party interests.

"I will be that person and I hope people in our area know that I will always put them first."

Mr Collins also paid tribute to renowned Lib Dem councillor, the late Paul Clark who sadly passed away from Covid recently.

Councillor Collins added: "While I am personally happy about being re-selected I'm very sad that my mentor in all of this, Paul Clark, is not here to see it."

Read Hitchin Nub News for our unrivalled depth of coverage on the Hitchin and Harpenden Parliamentary seat, as the battle for Westminster gears up ahead of the next General Election.