Tories' choice

Local party members chose Mr Sugerman (pictured), who represented Wivelsfield on the council for eight years.

He said: 'I'm very happy to be chosen as the candidate.

'I grew up here, represented it as a councillor for eight years and I still work in the area.

'I want to do everything I can to make what is already a wonderful area even better.'

Mr Sugerman, 37, lives in Wivelsfield and London with his wife Kate, who was the original face of Meridian TV News, and has two children Rosie and Alice.

He is the first general election candidate to be chosen under the new rules introduced by Conservative leader David Cameron.

As part of the new selection process, four local people who did not support the Conservatives at the last general election interviewed him and the other applicants.

His official position is the Conservative Party's parliamentary spokesman for the Lewes constituency.

He works as a criminal law barrister in London and often handles cases at Lewes Crown Court.