A councillor is a step closer to becoming the first black woman to be elected to the European Parliament from the UK.

Sanchia Alasia, who was elected to Barking and Dagenham Council in 2010, is one of six new candidates selected by the London Labour Party to fight the elections next year.

A specialist in French politics, she has spent many years working in European affairs and now works as an equality manager at Brunel University.

Commenting on the news, announced Monday, she said: “It’s a very exciting prospect, first and foremost to represent the nine million Londoners.

“London has some great members of the European Parliament but it could do better for representing women and ethnic minorities. Women make up 35 per cent of the European Parliament and ethnic minorities representation is even lower.”

In May Labour voters will have their chance to vote for whichever candidate they support, and if Ms Alasia is successful the European Parliament elections take place in May 2014.

Born in Jamaica and having grown up in Newham, she said: “It is great to have someone from East London and I think being a councillor for Barking and Dagenham, which has great aspirations but also challenges, will bring a unique perspective to the European Parliament.”