The Conservative Party have announced their candidate for next month's General Election.

Former number 10 special advisor Nikki da Costa has been chosen to contest the seat vacated by Sir Oliver Heald, who is standing down after 27 years in the Commons.

Ms da Costa was an advisor to both Theresa May and Boris Johnson, as well as giving policy advice to Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch.

She lives in Baldock with her husband and daughter and has campaigned locally, including an unsuccessful bid to be elected to North Herts Council.

She said: “North East Herts is my home and I love the can-do spirit of the area – people don’t wait around for others to solve problems, they get stuck in and sort them together.

“But I know they do want Westminster to step up. If I have the privilege of being elected as your MP, I’ll make sure North East Herts’ voice is heard.

She added: “And I promise that if I say I will do something, I’ll keep going until I’ve delivered.”

She will be defending the 18,000 vote majority won by Sir Oliver at the last General Election in 2019. 

The Comet: Sir Oliver Heald has given his backing to Nikki da CostaSir Oliver Heald has given his backing to Nikki da Costa (Image: North East Hertfordshire Conservative Association)

Throwing his support behind his potential successor, he said: “I fully support Nikki and I know that she will be a caring MP. She and her family live in the constituency, and she'll stand up for our villages as well as our towns.

“As a parent and school governor, she understands the needs of young families, and having run her own business, she understands the challenges and needs of our local businesses. I will be proud to vote for her on July 4."

Read more:

• Labour pick Chris Hinchliff to run in North East Herts

• General Election 2024: North Herts seats up for grabs

• Stevenage and North Herts: General Election reaction

The seat, typically a 'safe' Conservative hold, is believed to be around 200th (out of 650) on Labour's target list. 

However, polling aggregator Britain Elects estimate that Labour is currently on course to win the seat, polling three per cent ahead of the Conservatives.

The other candidates in North East Herts are Chris Hinchliff (Labour) Steven Adelantado (Reform UK), Ruth Brown (Liberal Democrats) and Vicky Burt (Green Party).