Mr Hudson is a founder member of the Liberal Democrat Friends of the Armed Forces group, campaigning for better welfare and support for both serving and retired servicemen and women.

He was educated in London and then at the University of Sydney and served as an officer in the Royal Navy for 10 years qualifying as a Russian interpreter.

He also has experience in business, the Civil Service and in higher education, recently gaining a masters' degree in Diplomatic Studies at the University of Leicester. He is currently a senior lecturer and postgraduate course leader in the Faculty of Art and Design at De Montfort University in Leicester.

Married to Bernadette, Mr Hudson lives near Uppingham. Speaking at his selection meeting he said: "I believe that voters relate to the core Liberal Democrat values of liberty, equality and community.

"We have a great opportunity to make real progress against a discredited Labour Government and a Tory opposition with no policies and a leader and shadow chancellor who have no real experience of life outside politics.

"We can set the agenda on all the key issues such as the threat to our civil liberties, the economy, taxation and the environment, and provide a real choice to voters in Rutland and Melton."