A CABINET member of Wigan Council has announced she will be joining the race to become the next MP for Leigh.

Cllr Joanne Platt, who represents Astley and Mosley Common for the council, has put herself forward for the role which will be vacant after Mayor for Greater Manchester candidate Andy Burnham steps down from his position following the General Election on June 8.

The National Executive Committee (NEC), the body who governs administrative matters for the Labour Party, is expected to make a decision next week about their candidate for the Leigh seat.

Joanne has served as a councillor since 2012 and been a member of the cabinet working in the children and young people services department for three years.

She said: "I have campaigned in Leigh for a long time through the whole constituency and I have got a good feeling for what people in the town want and what they need.

"They want someone who is local and knows Leigh which is something I have.

"I live in the area with my two children and care so much about the town.

"I have experience working with the cabinet overseeing all areas and obviously we have had to deal with some bad cuts recently but I think we have managed to work hard to make sure we have provided support to community groups so they have not been affected.

"It is important to keep helping the work these groups do and to have a vision of where we can go next including promoting the assets we already have.

"I am passionate about Leigh and I want to carry that on in parliament and have a strong voice in Westminster."