Tories to field first transsexual

The Conservatives are to field their first transsexual candidate in next May's local government elections.

Rebecca Baty, a member of the Conservative Party for 15 years and a woman for 10 years, is a staunch Thatcherite and will be standing for Haringey council in the Bruce Grove ward of Tottenham, one of London's most racially diverse areas.

Ms Bay told the Telegraph: "I don't get out of bed in the morning thinking, 'I'm a transsexual. It's not a big issue."

She added: "I've been a member of the party since 1986. I've always been a libertarian and I believe Margaret Thatcher represented a classically libertarian point of view."

Ms Baty said: "Of course I'm optimistic about the election, but it won't be easy. I expect some dirty tricks from certain opponents."

Labour activists in Tower Hamlets elected transsexual Paula Thomas to their women's council in 1996.