Political commentator Ed Vaizey has been selected as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Wantage.

He will succeed Robert Jackson, who is standing down at the next general election after nearly 20 years as Wantage MP.

Ed Vaizey

Mr Vaizey, 34, was brought up in Berkshire and lived in Oxford for three years as a student of history at Merton College.

He was vice-president of the Oxford Union and debated regularly.

Mr Vaizey, writes regularly forThe Guardian and contributes to BBC2's Despatch Box.

He fought the Bristol East parliamentary seat in 1997 and runs a public relations agency call Consolidated Communications.

Mr Vaizey said: "I'm delighted to have been chosen by local Conservatives from such a strong field. South Oxfordshire and the Vale are beautiful and vibrant areas and they deserve a strong champion."

Mr Vaizey was chosen from nearly 200 hopefuls.

Mr Jackson, Conservative MP for Wantage since the constituency was created in 1983, declared his intention to stand down last November to pursue other interests.

He said: "I think he'll be a very good candidate and, if elected, a very good member of Parliament who I'm confident would represent all the people in the constituency."

Association chairman John Grifzfiths said Mr Vaizey was the clear choice of party members in Wantage.

Mr Griffiths said: "He will bring energy and enthusiasm to this area and work well with Robert Jackson."