A CONSERVATIVE election candidate jetted off on a seaside holiday within hours of being selected to fight a key seat.

Pendle councillor Paul White was chosen to contest marginal Burnley on Monday night promising a full-on fight to win.

But the following day he flew to Alanya in Turkey for a break with his father Stephen.

His trip at the start of the campaign for the June 8 General Election came to the attention of political blogger ‘Guido Fawkes’ who commented: “Packing your sun cream and jetting off on holiday is however probably best left to after polling day.”

Cllr White, who the previous Thursday had narrowly failed to be re-elected as a Lancashire County Councillor defended taking his previously-booked break.

The 30-year-old, who was North-West director of the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign in the Euro-referendum, said: “I went on a pre-booked holiday with my dad which I could not get the money back on my insurance.

“I have a strong campaign team in Burnley who will be working in my absence and whom I am in touch with every day.

“There is no point politicians talking about the importance of family and then letting their own one down.

“I had just fought a long and hard county council election campaign and lost narrowly so was in need of a break to revitalise myself for fight to win in Burnley.

“I am back on Saturday after cutting my holiday short by four days to get back on the doorstep.”

In 2015 Conservative candidate Sarah Cockburn-Price came third with 5,374 votes, behind former Liberal Democrat MP Gordon Birtwistle and winner for Labour Julie Cooper.

Mrs Cooper said: “I cant blame him individually but it shows the Conservatives don’t take Burnley seriously.”

Cllr Birtwistle, standing again on June 8, said: “I can understand him going as this was shock election.

“I think he will need another holiday on June 9 after a second bruising defeat at the polls.”