A doctor could become the next MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, by the time the next UK General Election is called.

Dr Chandra Kanneganti has been chosen as the next Conservative candidate for Stoke-on-Trent Central. The current Goldenhill and Sandyford councillor beat rivals Steve Walley and David Jeffery.

The selection comes as incumbent MP Jo Gideon announced in February that she will not defend the current Stoke-on-Trent Central seat.

At the time Ms Gideon said she had 'not come to the decision lightly', and vowed to keep working for constituents until the next election.

Taking to Twitter Ms Gideon congratulated Dr Kanneganti on his selection. She tweeted: "Congratulations to Chandra. He will be an excellent Conservative candidate. Chandra was a well-loved mayor and is a trustee of the HarperLeeFoundation. Both as a local GP and local Councillor, Chandra has already looked after the community for years."

The seat will be a hotly contested with Jo Gideon only winning by 670 votes in 2019 making it the 19 most marginal seat in the country.

In 2019 Dr Kanneganti stood in the Black Country seat of Warley and has been a Stoke-on-Trent City councillor for Goldenhill and Sandyford since 2019 and was Lord Mayor of the city between 2021/22.

Dr Chandra believes he's the first ethnic minority candidate in the city from either of the main two parties.

Speaking on his selection, the Goldenhill Medical Centre GP said: "I feel honoured that the Conservative Party members have selected me. It is a very proud moment to get a chance to represent this great city of Stoke-on-Trent.

"My campaign will be based on my ideas about how I will support economic growth, support education and make sure Stoke-on-Trent's heritage and culture is protected. These are my clear priorities.

"I want people to look at my history as a GP and how I delivered excellent healthcare for many years in the city, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent Central in the Shelton practice, and to see what I could help deliver as their MP."

Dr Kanneganti will go up against former MP, Labour candidate Gareth Snell in the next general election which will be held in the next 18 months.

The next UK General Election could be called from today until May 2025.

Conservatives could be feeling confident with their new potential MP, as they already hold the seat.

Stoke-on-Trent Central has been represented by Jo Gideon of the Conservative Party since the general election of 2019.

It was the first time the Tories won the seat for the first time in the history of the constituency. They scored 45.4% of the vote, as opposed to Labour Co-op's second place finish of 43.3% of the vote.