Sydney News: NSW Nationals confirm candidate for Upper Hunter by-election

Here’s what you need to know this morning.

David Layzell picked for Nationals in Upper Hunter

The Nationals have preselected a local construction manager, David Layzell, to run as the party’s candidate in the Upper Hunter by-election.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Michael Johnsen after the ABC revealed he had sent lewd text messages to a sex worker during parliamentary question time.

He is also under police investigation for an alleged rape, an allegation he strenuously denies.

Mr Layzell, 45, was not the frontrunner in the two-candidate preselection.

“It was a contest of ideas,” he said, “luckily for me…