Ukip have selected Peter Whittle as their parliamentary candidate for Eltham.

Mr Whittle will stand for election in the constituency in May next year. He is currently Ukip’s culture spokesman as well as the founder and director of the New Culture Forum, a high profile think tank based in Westminster.

Mr Whittle stood in the recent council elections in the Coldharbour and New Eltham ward but was unsuccessful.

Chairman of Ukip’s Lewisham and Greenwich branch Paul Oakley said: "Peter is a great candidate and I am delighted. He knows Eltham extremely well having grown up and lived here."

Mr Whittle grew up in Shooter’s Hill and attended John Roan School.

He said: "I am thrilled to be selected. Having come from the area, it’s a particularly personal honour for me. The political climate is changing by the day, and I firmly believe Ukip can achieve something remarkable here in Eltham."

Mr Whittle will be up against Labour incumbent Clive Efford and the Tories' Spencer Drury. Ukip support in Eltham at the local elections contributed to two Greenwich Conservatives, including deputy leader Nigel Fletcher, losing their seats.