Blears wins seat selection battle

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Minister Hazel Blears has been selected to fight a new seat at the next general election after boundary changes forced a head-to-head contest with another MP.

The communities and local government secretary defeated Labour MP Ian Stewart, after the two constituencies of Salford and Eccles were merged.

The Salford MP was chosen to be the Labour candidate by 174 votes to 79.

Afterwards she told the BBC it had been "an awful condition" for past members to have had to choose between two MPs.

"I've paid tribute to Ian Stewart today. I think he has served the people of Eccles extremely well over the past 10 years," Ms Blears said.

"Nevertheless I am delighted to have such a vote of confidence in myself and I want to bring people together and win the next election."