A Harvard law graduate has been named as the Conservative party's parliamentary candidate for Kingston at the 2015 general election.

James Berry will challenge Edward Davey for his Kingston and Surbiton seat next year, hoping to end the Liberal Democrat's 17-year tenure as constituency MP.

The 30-year-old's priorities include securing enough school places for children in the borough and promoting local businesses.

Mr Berry said: "I am honoured and delighted to have been chosen as the Conservative party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Kingston and Surbiton from a strong field.

"Kingston and Surbiton is a fantastic area. I will be starting straight away, getting out and meeting people across the constituency to understand what matters to them.

"I am looking forward to working with local Conservatives, supporting our excellent candidates for the 2014 Kingston Council elections and taking the fight to the Liberal Democrats in 2015.”

Mr Berry was born in Canterbury in Kent but has lived in London for the past 12 years. he currently resides in Victoria.

He studied law at University College London and was awarded a scholarship to Harvard Law School in the US as a result. 

It was there he met his future wife, Nehali, on his first day of study.

The couple married in August this year.

As a barrister, Mr Berry specialises in police and healthcare issues, and is editor of the UK Police Law Blog.

High profile cases he has been involved in include last year's Leveson Inquiry into media ethics and the inquest of gunman Raoul Moat.

Jim White, deputy chairman of Kingston and Surbiton Conservative Association, said: "James is reasonably young, but he is incredibly intelligent, hard working and very engaging when you talk to him.

"He has a very human quality to him, and I find it very appealing when you get politicians who are seen to be human."

The Conservatives are the last main party to announce its prospective parliamentary candidate for next year's election.

The Labour party unveiled energy consultant Lee Godfrey as its election hopeful in November.

The Lib Dems reselected Mr Davey - who has held the seat since 1997 - without any fanfare in the summer.