The Liberal Democrats have selected their candidate who will battle to hold on to the Brent Central seat in the next General Election.

Ibrahim Taguri, from Willesden Green, has been named as the successor to Sarah Teather who will step down from the marginal seat in 2015.

He said: “I’m delighted to have won the backing of local party members.

“I am determined to carry in Sarah Teather’s excellent legacy as Brent’s local MP, fighting for better schools and more jobs locally. “I’ve already been talking to local people about the issues that matter to them most and how let down they feel about Brent Labour wasting their money on parties, pay-offs and expensive gimmicks instead of providing quality local services.”

Ms Teather, who announced she was stepping down in September, said: “I am so pleased that Ibrahim has been selected. I know that they will stand up for Brent and work hard to gain people’s trust.

“I am looking forward to working alongside Ibrahim to make sure that Brent Central has a Liberal Democrat MP beyond 2015.”

Mr Ibrahim, who was born in Brent and works in the charitable sector, will go head to head with Labour’s Dawn Butler to try and keep the seat.

The 44-year-old held the Labour-stronghold seat of Brent South until 2010 when boundary changes resulted in the new constituency of Brent Central being formed.

The former GMB worker lost the seat to Ms Teather who overturned a notional majority of 7,000 with an 11 per cent swing to the Liberal Democrats.

Last month she fought off fierce competition to be selected as Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency.

The Conservative Party have yet to announce their candidate.