LABOUR’S candidate to succeed outgoing Southampton MP John Denham has been decided. Rowenna Davis will fight to hold the Southampton Itchen seat for Labour at the next general election after Mr Denham stands down after 23 years.

The selection contest was an all-woman shortlist. Ms Davis saw off tough competition from former city councillor Pat Everny and current councillors Sarah Bogle and Satvir Kaur. Labour’s newest candidate is a journalist who is no stranger to politics as she has been a councillor in Peckham, London, and has campaigned against inequality. She will face the leader of the city council’s Conservative opposition Royston Smith Speaking after her election by party members, she said: “It's an honour to succeed John Denham as Labour's candidate for Southampton Itchen. “Too many people have told me they feel anxious about the future as a result of a heartless and incompetent government that continues to give a raw deal to this city, threatening Southampton's proud record as a place of hope and opportunity “We urgently need to make Southampton a living wage city, attract new investment and employment, build more affordable housing and support our schools to become the leading lights of the South.

“I'm looking forward to working on these issues with all residents whether they voted Labour, Conservative, UKIP or have never voted at all, to change Southampton together.” Rowenna grew up in London but knows Hampshire well as her grandmother lived in the county.

She says her politics came from her comprehensive school playground, where half the pupils were on free school meals and 52 different languages were spoken. She was moved by the issues of class, bullying and family life.

A South East Labour spokesperson said: “This is great news for the Labour party and for the constituency. “Rowenna will campaign tirelessly to make sure there is still a Labour MP in Southampton Itchen after the 2015 general election.

“John Denham has been a dedicated and hardworking MP for over two decades and he will be missed by many but his experiences will help our new candidate to hit the ground running and to build a successful campaign.” Mr Denham said: “It’s been a real honour to represent Southampton in Parliament since 1992 having served as a councillor for 11 years before that. The city has been my home all my adult life. "I’m proud of it and its people.

"The city has seen huge changes – this month’s closure of Ford’s Southampton plant is symbolic of the move away from traditional manufacturing, but at the same time the port has boomed, we are a global centre for optical fibre, we have two fine universities and world class health care – and still build the world’s best hovercraft.

“With the Saints at St Marys, Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, and the Boat Show we are the sporting centre of the south.”