TWO MAJOR political parties have announced their candidates to run in the general election for Eastleigh next month.

Sam Jordan will be running as the Labour candidate while Paul Holmes will be representing the Conservatives.

Paul joined Southampton City Council as one of the youngest councillors in the country at the age of 19 in 2008.

He controversially looked after the city’s schools, followed by child protection services, with a combined £226m budget.

Describing himself as a Saints supporter and real ale fan, Paul served as SCC’s portfolio holder for education from 2009-2011.

The former Southampton University student who now lives in Bassett, more recently worked in Government at the Cabinet Office and as an adviser to the Secretary of State for Education.

A former councillor for Redbridge, Paul was picked to take on Alan Whitehead for the Southampton Test constituency in the 2017 general election.

Paul said: “The election is the most important one in a generation and I am honoured to be have been selected by local members.

“I want to get Brexit done so the country can move on and come together.

“Then we can deliver on local people’s priorities like putting more police on the streets, investing in our schools and training more GPs so people can secure a doctor’s appointment when they want one.

This years' election is Sam Jordan’s first foray into politics.

Born and raised in Eastleigh, he claims to have been a member of the Labour party since 2013.

The 30-year-old who works as a telecommunications advisor is married and reports to be the father of one cat and a dog.

He spends much of his time travelling across the borough supporting and running football clubs with local volunteers.

According to Sam his determination to run in the election stems from his frustration with opposition candidates lack of representation of Eastleigh.

Sam said: “I want to see a comprehensive increase in the quality of the services and infrastructure across the constituency.

"I want to make our community safer, more efficient and just that – a community.”