DAVID Drew has confirmed that he is running to be the Labour candidate in Stroud at the election in June.

It has been confirmed that the former MP that has applied to run for the Stroud constituency.

Applications to stand as the Labour candidate for Stroud closed at noon yesterday, the selection will be made by the National Executive Committee not the local party.

The decision on who will be running is expected to be this weekend.

Originally Mr Drew was reluctent to put his name forward, saying: "I'm not that keen to do it, but we'll see.

"It's like anything, I would rather not commit myself having said that I've retired, you know I have retired."

David Drew was the MP for Stroud from 1997 until 2010 when he lost his seat to the incumbent Conservative MP Neil Carmichael.

Mr Drew ran for Labour in the 2015 election and came second, losing by 4,866 votes.

The Conservatives won with 45.7 per cent of the vote, increasing their majority and keeping Neil Carmichael as Member of Parliament.