Broadcast Journalism student Benjamin Gibson will fight for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland as a Liberal Democrat, as well as standing for election to the local council in Middlesbrough.

As if studying for a degree at the same time as standing for Parliament in the other end of the country wasn’t enough, Benjamin has juggled his commitments with extensive community work in his home town.

Having previously worked on the Middlesbrough Youth Empowerment Project, Benjamin now has his own community radio show on CVFM 104.5FM, alongside his role as a voluntary disability co-ordinator.

He has even been able to transfer the skills he’s learnt on his degree at the University with his role as multimedia advisor to the North East Liberal Democrats.

But the next big step in his career is his fight for Parliament.

The Chair of North East Liberal Democrats, Ian Jones, said:

"We are delighted to have Ben as our parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland.

"He already has a strong record of working for young people in the constituency particularly in the fields of education and disability rights."

Benjamin’s election campaign will finish as his final-year project nears its own conclusion, with the two set to feed into each other.

"I'm delighted that Ben is going to use his experiences standing for Parliament as the foundation for a radio documentary he is working on for his final third-year assessment and which will be broadcast after the election,” said Broadcast Journalism course co-ordinator Kate Ironside.

"He's been an exemplary student, playing a key role in news days and on the University's community radio station, Radio LaB. This is a great opportunity for Benjamin."