The mayor of Llanfyllin, Simon Baynes, will be the Conservative candidate for Clwyd South at the next general election.

Councillor Baynes is a former businessman, founder of the charity Concertina – Music for the Elderly – and author of the recently published book 'Lake Vyrnwy – The Story of a Sporting Hotel' and stood in Clwyd South in 2017, increasing the Conservative vote by almost 4,000.

He insists he supports prime minister Boris Johnson's determination to leave the European Union on October 31 and will campaign on bringing more money to the region.

“I am extremely pleased to have been selected, and I will be campaigning hard on the issues that matter most to the people of Clwyd South," he said.

“It is essential that we leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal. I strongly support Mr Johnson, and his approach to negotiating with the EU.”

Cllr Baynes also wants to make sure money made available to the Welsh Labour Government from Westminster is spent where it is needed most.

He said: “That money must be used to fund front- line services, particularly health, education and care for the elderly. It must not be used to finance Welsh Labour’s pet projects in South Wales.

“We need a long-term solution so that people are not forced to sell their homes when they go into a care home.

"I also want to see pensioner benefits fully protected.”

Farming and the countryside are important to Cllr Baynes and he will work hard to support both; he is chairman of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and is keen to protect and promote heritage in Clwyd South.

He is a Trustee of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Mid Wales Opera and Chairman of the Holroyd Community Theatre near Oswestry.