BURNLEY'S Shahid Malik has been selected as a prospective parliamentary candidate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

Mr Malik, 36, a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee, was chosen by Dewsbury Constituency Labour Party with a majority of 21 votes.

Mr Malik, son of former Burnley Mayor Rafique Malik, wants to take over from present Labour MP Ann Taylor who will step down at the next General Election.

He is an adviser to the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, working in the 88 poorest parts of the country and he recently completed a major review for the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber looking at deprived neighbourhoods.

He also works for the Home Office as a community cohesion adviser working to help create a sense of citizenship within communities.

Previously, Mr Malik was appointed by Mo Mowlam as the only British Commissioner to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland following the Good Friday Agreement.

The former pupil of Barden High School has also been vice-chairman of the United Nations body UNESCO UK.

Earlier this year he was eliminated from the race to stand as the Parliamentary candidate for Brent East in London.