Veteran campaigner Michael Britton has been selected as Labour’s North Thanet parliamentary candidate for the next election.

The 63-year-old described his appointment as an honour, but admitted that restoring seaside towns like Margate would be a big challenge.

Mr Britton pledged to support struggling traders and said one of his priorities would be to ensure that local people are in receipt of their correct benefits.

He said: “When you look around the town, it’s terribly sad and run down, and the façades need a great deal of attention.

“There doesn’t seem to be much effort to make it more lively or more activity-led. One area of the town is being attended to but the rest is being left to its own devices.”

Mr Britton is tasked with defeating the long-standing MP Roger Gale. The Tory politician has held the North Thanet seat since it was created in 1983 and took almost half of the 2003 vote.

Margate Cllr Iris Johnston, chairman of the North Thanet Labour group, said: “Michael is someone who enjoys his politics but he also knows the ropes and will fight for the people of Thanet.”

For a full interview with Michael Britton, see next week’s Thanet Extra, available from Wednesday Nov 19