A former teacher has been selected to contest the next General Election for the Labour Party.
Jo Kirby, who lives in Miltonduff, near Elgin, came third in the 2017 poll with 5,200 votes.
Now, the former Elgin Academy and Milne’s High School teacher, who now works as an anti-poverty officer has been selected by activists to contest the seat again.
Mrs Kirby was unanimously backed by local members in a secret ballot.
She said: “I’ve spent my whole life working to improve the lives of others, both as a teacher and in my work against poverty.
“I now hope to continue the fight against poverty and inequality on Westminster’s green benches.”
Mrs Kirby increased Labour’s votes from the 2015 election, when candidate Sean Morton secured nearly 4,900 votes and 9.9% of the share, with 10.9% of the turnout in 2017.
Stuart MacLennan, the party’s election agent in Moray, said: “People thought we were going to be squeezed out last time, but in the end, Jo increased Labour’s vote.
“More and more people are realising that there’s almost no difference between the SNP and the Tories – they’re both obsessed with constitutional matters while ignoring the real issues affecting the lives of ordinary people.”