Welsh Conservatives select Sarah Atherton as Wrexham candidate to fight General Election

The Welsh Conservatives have selected their parliamentary candidate for Wrexham.

Sarah Atherton, who also ran for Rhosnesni councillor in the local authority elections in 2017 (you can read our Q&A with her here) and in the Alyn and Deeside by-election last year, was formally announced at the candidate for the next general election last night.

A former soldier and current the nurse and social worker, Atherton is currently a member of Gresford Community Council and a Trustee of the Gresford and District War Memorial Trust.

Speaking after the meeting she said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to fight this seat.

“I intend to roll my sleeves up straight away, and get working towards ending the stranglehold Labour have had on Wrexham since 1935.”

In terms of her priorities for the area, Sarah said that regeneration is a top focus, noting that Wrexham town centre has “lost its way”.

Atherton added: “I want to see a Wrexham that is vibrant and attractive – a place where people want to spend time and money.”

“Attracting new investment into the town is essential, and I will make sure Wrexham is able to capitalise on the benefits the North Wales Growth Deal will bring. Better infrastructure is a must, if we want new businesses to come here and create new jobs.”

Atherton says she ‘will work closely with other agencies to address increasing numbers of rough sleepers’ – along with a “push for a crackdown on neighbourhood crime.”

A leave voter in the 2016 referendum, she added that leaving the EU is something she “will passionately working towards.”

She added: “Wrexham has been under represented by its MP for the past 18 years, the opinions of its people have been disregarded and opportunities have been allowed to slip by. I intend to change that at the next election.”

In an unusual step the Prime Minister took time out today to congratulate Wrexham’s newest Conservative candidate on twitter, with Atherton also pictured with a high profile party member last month, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Many congratulations to @AthertonNWales who was last night chosen as the @ConservativeWxm Parliamentary candidate for the next election. She has a proud record fighting for her community, and I know she’ll make an excellent addition to the green benches. https://t.co/Sjro9Tbdgg

— Theresa May (@theresa_may) April 30, 2019