A renowned dog breeder and Crufts judge is the new President of the Romsey and Southampton North Conservative Association.

Miss Jean Lanning, of King’s Somborne takes over from Alastair Dunn of Braishfield, who stood down after a ten years in office during which time the Tories regained the parliamentary seat from the Lib Dems at the 2010 election.

The expert on Great Danes, Dalmatians, Beagles and Corgis was confirmed as president at the association’s annual meeting last Friday when Ian Hibberd of Romsey Extra was re-elected as chairman.

A newcomer to the officer team, Alan Clark of West Wellow, was elected treasurer.

Addressing the meeting Miss Lanning said that she was honoured to be asked become president in the run-up to the general election and pledged her full support to Caroline Nokes as MP.

"I have known Caroline since she was a young girl and have been really impressed by the way she has discharged the duties of MP,” said Miss Lanning.

“She is so hard working and I am not surprised to learn that she has won the Parliamentary accolade of being the most responsive MP to her constituents. I write to her at least twice a week and she never fails to reply. We are indeed fortunate to have as MP such a capable and hard working and genuinely local young woman who has lived here all her life."

Ms Nokes thanked Miss Lanning for taking on the role and also expressed her gratitude to Mr Dunn for his support during his term as president Speaking about the election, she said: “Despite a plethora of parties seeking votes the real choice facing the British people is whether David Cameron or Ed Miliband should be Prime Minister.”

She said David Cameron’s government had turned round the UK economy, which was now the fastest growing in Europe, with 30.8 million people in jobs, a 14-year record high of job vacancies and an unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent which was lower than before the recession.

“Youth unemployment was now coming down, inflation was coming down and the deficit was coming down. It would be extreme folly to put all this at risk and let in a left wing Labour Government," said Ms Nokes.