FRINTON councillor and actor Giles Watling, who has been reselected as the Conservative candidate for the Clacton seat at the upcoming General Election, says Prime Minister Theresa May must be given a strong hand in her Brexit negotiations.

Mr Watling, who is also Tendring Council's cabinet member for regeneration, cut current MP Douglas Carswell's majority from 12,404 votes at the Clacton by-election in 2014 to just 3,437 votes in 2015.

The 64-year-old actor, who starred in 1980s sitcom Bread, was selected as the Tory candidate at a special meeting of the Clacton Conservative Association on Saturday.

He said: “It’s a massive honour to have been re-selected as the Conservative candidate - hopefully it's third time lucky.

"I expected some competition, including from my friend Neil Stock, but he had the good grace to withdraw his bid for the candidacy for the sake of friendship and the solidarity of the party moving forward.

“We can work closely together for the benefit of Clacton with him as leader of Tendring Council and I, hopefully, as MP.”

Mr Watling said he backed Prime Minister Theresa May’s stance on Brexit.

“I voted remain in the referendum, but above all I am a democrat," he said.

“A Conservative government delivered the referendum, the referendum delivered a result in favour of Brexit and we now must leave the EU – and we must manage it well.

“The 27 countries of the EU are lining up against us as we knew they would. It is essential that Theresa May is given a strong hand to deal with the EU."

Mr Watling said he would be campaigning to bring jobs and regeneration to parts of the Clacton constituency, while fighting to protect other areas.

“I have known this area since 1957 when I first came here as a child. I ran the summer theatre here in Frinton and brought my children up here.

“This area has to my mind been ignored lately while the people of Westminster have been thinking about other things. I think it’s time that our MP should be local.

“It’s a criminal shame that a district such as Tendring, a meagre 70 miles from London, should be home to the greatest deprivation in Britain.

“Our current district council, which I’m proud to be a part of, is beginning to get a grip on this.

“Jaywick has had more regeneration in last two years than it has had in 50.

“We have started the ball rolling in a big way – and just imagine what we could do if we had a strong voice in Parliament shouting for this district.

“Jaywick is one of the areas that needs change, but there are some areas that need preserving and enhancing, including much of our rural hinterland."

Mr Watling said that one of the keys to tackling socio-economic problems in Clacton is to create jobs.

“As regeneration portfolio holder, I introduced a small and medium-sized enterprises grant to help small businesses grow, which is now coming to fruition.

“If we get regeneration right we can deal with the socio-economic problems of this area.”

Alongside regeneration projects, Mr Watling said he also hopes to launch a drama festival in Tendring in order to make culture available to all.

Mr Watling’s friend and cabinet colleague Neil Stock, the leader of Tendring Council, announced he was also intending to stand for the seat.

But Mr Stock decided to stand aside to avoid a “divisive” selection contest before backing Mr Watling’s bid to become the town’s next MP.

Neil Stock said: “I shall throw my weight 100 per cent behind Giles," he said.

“I am confident that Giles can not only win the seat but also be an outstanding MP committed to delivering for Clacton and I will certainly relish the opportunity of working with him as leader of the council to improve the lives of our residents."

Jeff Bray was selected as Ukip’s candidate following a hustings event last Wednesday, but yesterday he was still waiting to find out whether the decision has been ratified by Ukip’s National Executive Committee.