MP Mike Foster has fought off an internet campaign and been picked to fight the next General Election as the Labour Party candidate for Worcester.

A message on Worcester's Labour website had urged activists to force Mr Foster to face a run-off against other contenders.

But Mr Foster won the unanimous endorsement of the local party to fight the seat at an expected autumn 2005 poll.

Labour Party branches and affiliated trade unions gave Mr Foster a 9 - 0 vote of confidence, following meetings they held throughout the summer. This means he will not face a challenge.

Chairman of Worcester Labour Party, Joy Squires said: "Michael received the backing of all local party branches and the trade union and affiliated organisations.

"He is a popular and very diligent MP, as this massive vote of confidence shows. He will be our candidate for the next General Election, which we intend to channel all our energies into."

Mr Foster, who was first elected in 1997, said he was "delighted".

He added: "Local members know that I represent a modern Labour Party with traditional values of social justice and fairness at the heart of everything we do.

"This result means I can continue to campaign for the people of Worcester on issues that concern them."

The message posted on the Labour website in April had argued Mr Foster should not be "nodded through".

Served

Its author, Peter Nielsen, said: "By the time of the next General Election, it will be up to 10 years since he was originally exposed to competitive selection in 1996. It will be 12 years since Labour Party members last elected Tony Blair as leader.

"Party democracy is not well served by such long periods.

"The performance of our MP should be assessed and exposed to scrutiny in a selection conference in competition with other candidates."