A Camden councillor has pledged he will not be a "notoriously absent MP" like Boris Johnson should he face him - and win- at the next general election.
Cllr Danny Beales has been selected by Labour Party members to stand for Uxbridge & South Ruislip in 2025 - unless a general election or a by-election is called sooner.
For the Camden Square councillor to win the seat would be seismic as the area has been a Conservative stronghold since its creation in 2010.
It has been reported that Boris Johnson will stand again.
A continuing Commons investigation could still find the former prime minister committed contempt of Parliament by misleading MPs over lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street, and trigger a by-election.
Cllr Beales told the Ham&High his selection was "still very fresh".
Born at Hillingdon Hospital in 1988 and educated in Ruislip, Cllr Beales was raised by a single parent, with his life "shaped by early struggle and poverty".
"It's mixed emotions, it's a bit of shock, surprise, excitement as well to crack on and get on with the campaign," he said.
"It's also quite a big responsibility to not only have the chance to beat Boris Johnson but to generally contribute to a Labour government being delivered, which hasn't happened for 12 years.
"It's a significant responsibility to make that happen.
"I think there's been a Labour MP in the broad area about twice in history so it's traditionally been more Conservative. So it definitely won't be a walk in the park, that's for sure."
In 2019, Mr Johnson swept to victory in Uxbridge & South Ruislip with 25,351 votes (52.6%) - an increase of 1.8% on the previous election.
Labour's Ali Milani came second with 18,141 (37.6%) - a drop of 2.4%.
Cllr Beales said: "From my perspective, I can't determine who I face, I can't determine if Boris stands again or he doesn't.
"Whoever is the Conservative candidate at the next election I need to work hard and make the argument I would be a better member of parliament and why a Labour member of parliament would be better than a Conservative one.
"With Boris we all know he has seen the constituency as a route for personal gain and personal progression rather than necessarily as an area to serve.
"As a local constituency MP he's notoriously absent, notoriously part time at best.
"There's a certain dynamic that's unique to him, I don't think most MPs are like that."
He said he felt, as a public servant for the last nine years, "a sense of responsibility" that the people of Uxbridge "deserve decent representation, they deserve, for the money that they're paying to have someone that they can contact, that they can see, that can raise issues with, and who will listen".
He added: "They are being failed in regard to that at the moment."
He said "hopefully I have a good reputation" as a local councillor who is "present, responsive and who takes up issues".
"When people have raised issues with me, I've sorted problems out, I've raised them with agencies and officials.
"At cabinet level, I've a good reputation as someone who gets things done, who delivers the council homes, who gets more investment for the area, who goes out and champions the place I represent every day and also comes up with solutions to problems that arise whatever they may be.
"I've also seen from a local government perspective how national government has often held us back with what we want to do, whether it's building council homes, delivering skills and training, or planning.
"Every area I've been responsible for, HS2 for instance, I've seen when national government doesn't enable communities, give them the power they need.
"At the moment it needs a Labour government to bring progressive change."
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