A trade union activist has been selected to challenege Iain Duncan Smith in the general election.

Len Hockey has worked as a porter at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone for 26 years, will stand in the Chingford and Woodford Green constituency for the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

The 53-year-old Unite union branch secretary said his campaign will focus on challenging government austerity.

He said: "The mainstream parties’ message on the need for austerity, or what I call planned poverty, is false and unnecessary. 

"There is enough wealth in this country. We do not need Iain Duncan Smith implementing brutal cuts.

"His changes to the welfare system are causing misery to millions of people and his policies need to be challenged."

Mr Hockey also said cuts are impacting on the quality of care at Whipps Cross. 

He added: "I am proud to work at Whipps Cross but the destabilisation and fragmentation is sadly becoming more and more of an issue. 

"Staff are not getting the resources needed to provide the adequate level of care and the service is becoming more remote from the people that own it and run it."