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Former Birmingham MP John Hemming has been selected to stand again in the Birmingham Yardley seat he represented for 10 years.

The Liberal Democrat politician will stand against Labour’s Jess Phillips, if a snap election is called in the near future.

Liberal Democrats have selected candidates for key seats which they believe they have a choice of winning, ready for a possible sudden election.

It follows speculation that Theresa May, the new Conservative Prime Minister, could decide to call an election next year or even later this year - although she has insisted she has no plans to do this.

Mr Hemming was Birmingham Yardley’s MP from 2005 to 2015. The businessman and jazz musician, a former Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, was defeated by Labour’s Jess Phillips in the 2015 general election, when the Liberal Democrats lost 49 seats across the country.

As an MP he was known for his campaign to make the workings of family courts, where decisions are taken about child welfare, more open.

He also campaigned against what he saw as the abuse of “super injunctions” designed to prevent the media revealing information about public figures.

The married former MP fathered a child with his personal assistant Emily Cox and was nominated for the News of the World’s ‘Love Rat of the Year’ competition in 2007. He revealed that he had voted for himself.

The nomination as Lib Dem candidate only applies if an election takes place by mid-2017. A new general election is not required until 2020.

His replacement as Yardley MP, Ms Phillips, has developed a reputation for being unspun and outspoken, She is writing a book called Everywoman: One Woman’s Truth About Speaking the Truth, which is expected to be published in March 2017.

Mr Hemming said: “I thank the Yardley Lib Dems for their vote of confidence. I know many Yardley residents regret electing the Labour MP and would like to see me return.”

He added: “On a national level there still needs to be campaigning for justice and against secret imprisonment.

“It is also clear that an alternative that recognises the importance of business, but looks properly at the impact on the poorer members of society is needed in UK politics.

“It is not that likely that we will see a snap election. If we do, however, I am ready to serve the citizens of Yardley again.”

If there is no snap election then the party will go through a fresh nomination process in the usual way, though as Parliamentary boundaries are being reviewed it is possible that constituencies including Birmingham Yardley will be substantially changed before candidates are chosen.