THE mother of a former Oxford United player attacked in Greece is a candidate to become a Labour MEP.

Maggie Hughes campaigned for better protection for Britons abroad after her son Robbie Hughes almost died after the assault in 2008.

The midfielder, now 32, played for the U’s in 2005. He was left brain damaged after the attack in the tourist resort of Malia in Crete.

Last year Mrs Hughes presented her Victims of Crime Abroad campaign to Greek ambassador Arsteidis Sandis.

In September, she saw members of the European Parliament approve a new bill in Strasbourg. It means Brits travelling around the European Union will have the right to information on other countries’ justice systems in English.

Mum-of-eight Mrs Hughes, who lives in Surrey, said: “I’m on the Labour candidates’ list for the South East region and I will see how far I get.”