Isle of Wight Council Conservative group leader Joe Robertson has been selected as the party's candidate hoping to become the Isle of Wight's second MP.

Cllr Robertson, who is a councillor in Bembridge, will represent the group in the proposed Isle of Wight East seat.

It means, at the next general election, he will stand against other candidates from different political parties.

He beat off competition for three other Tory hopefuls. Former Sky News journalist Harriet Hadfield, Conservative campaigner Ian Wellby and former Tory councillor Louise Brice, who lives in Kent, were the other names vying for nomination.

Read more: Isle of Wight East Conservative election candidates shortlist

At the next general election, which must take place before January 2025, the Isle of Wight is expected to be split into two. It is part of a national plan to make constituencies more even and a final decision on what that will look like here is due at Westminster, before July 1.

Since November 2021, Cllr Robertson has led the Isle of Wight Council's Conservative Group.

He also sits as chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

In 2019's general election, he represented Erith and Thamesmead in south London, finishing second to Labour, but gaining four percentage points.

Joe grew up in St Helens, where he still lives with his wife and children and he went to school in Ryde.

A former family solicitor and president of the Hampshire Law Society, Cllr Robertson is an in-house adviser to a national dementia charity.

He has previously been a governor for Arreton and Oakfield primary schools.

In recent months, Cllr Robertson secured a grant from the police and crime commissioner to help reduce anti-social behaviour in Ryde.

He has been publicly endorsed by Wayne Whittle, Chris Quirk and Lady Grylls, he has also been pictured with the government's Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.

Current Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is the Conservative's choice to stand for the Isle of Wight West seat.