VALE voters will have the opportunity to elect their first female MP after the constituency Labour party announced an all-women shortlist.

The Vale of Glamorgan Labour Party has begun the work of finding a candidate for the next Westminster General Election, following incumbent Labour MP John Smith’s announcement that he will step aside on health grounds.

Vale Labour party secretary, Cllr Chris Elmore said they would be proud to ensure the Vale had the highest quality of representation and that a woman would be selected as their candidate.

He said: "We have now started the selection process and we look forward to continuing our fine traditions in the Vale of providing women to represent our local communities.

"We have Jane Hutt doing great work as our current Assembly Member. "As a local party we were also the first political group to choose a female leader and Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan in Councillor Margaret Alexander.

"We have a long history of championing women into elected office".

He added: "We have the highest representation of female councillors on the Vale of Glamorgan Council and are delighted to support the selection of a new parliamentary candidate from a women-only shortlist."

Tory assembly member Alun Cairns and Dr Ian Johnson, representing Plaid, have already announced their intention to stand in the 2010 contest.