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The Conservative Party has selected their candidate vying to become the next elected mayor of South Yorkshire.

Clive Watkinson, who is the managing director of Barnsley-based furniture retailer firm J C Snell, was chosen to become the Tory candidate following a members selection process on Wednesday night (March 9).

Mr Watkinson is also a director of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.

Tory bosses said his campaign would focus on transport infrastructure, helping businesses ‘make the most of global opportunities’ and working closely with the Government.

Clive Watkinson has been selected as the Conservative candidate for South Yorkshire mayor

Mr Watkinson said he hoped to follow the example of Tory mayors in Teesside and the West Midlands where the party upset the odds beating Labour in their historic strongholds.

He added that he was ‘thrilled’ to be selected by members and will hope to unseat Labour come election day where voters head to the polls on May 5.

The businessman, a former deputy chairman of the South Yorkshire Conservatives, also stood for Parliament in 2005 in the now abolished Barnsley West & Penistone seat coming second to Labour.

Conservatives select Barnsley-based businessman Clive Watkinson as South Yorkshire mayoral candidate