Fifth tranche of seats released

Closing date for applications is Monday 10th September.

Chester (re-run)
Dudley North
Dudley South
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (re-run)
Portsmouth South
Southport (re-run)
St Ives
Walsall North
Walsall South
Ynys Mon

For information on all constituencies and candidates click here for the most recent release of our database.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[Deputy Editor]

Some good seats here.

In my opinion the immensely popular Cllr Brenda Porter (if she can get on the list in time) is the best hope for Southport, and hard-working Cheshire Cllr Fiona Bruce would be perfect for Chester.

[wakeuphants]

3 months ago Eastleigh (LD maj 500) was in the "latest tranche" with a deadline of 11th June. Two and a half months after the deadline its sleepy time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Someone wake the Hants regional disorganiser and the CCHQ organiser for Eastleigh, up. Dozing to oblivion.
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2007/05/cchq_announces_.html

[MacClavity the Cat]

How well does the Dep Ed know either Chester in the North or Eastleigh in the South?

[601]

Where is Brent North? The majority won't be as hard to overturn as it looks.

[Paul D]

I gather that Westmoreland & Lonsdale are in the process of reselecting too

[trafalgar_matelot]

Must agree with the deputy editor that councillor porter is the person to be chosen for Southport. Everyone knows her and our local papers (i live in west lancs)even if they are biased against us-seem to support her.

Her personal vote would be quite big because she seems to do a lot for less tory areas of the constituency rather than just looking after her own interests in her own ward as so many councillors seem to do across the country.

[Paul Rogers]

This is a really interesting batch of seats with lots of potential, particularly with Chester and Southport.

Ynys Mon is very unpredictable, we have once held this seat in Wales. Plaid hold the assembly seat with their leader Ieuan Wyn Jones, and Labour hold the parliament seat with Albert Owen MP.

Previously James Roach who is an excellent candidate has fought the seat at parliamentary and assembly election for our party. Unfortunatly at recent elections, one of our former AMs, Peter Rogers decided to stand as an independant attracting loyalty from Conservative voters following failure in reselection as a North Wales regional candidate after the first assembly term in 2003. The Conservative vote on the island has therefore been split in two in recent years.

As a former regional candidate who worked with James Roach in recent elections I would hope James Roach would stand again for Ynys Mon. However if either he or Peter Rogers decides not to stand this could be one to watch.

[trustafarian]

They are having THREE re-runs for THREE former Tory seats. Oh my, how times have changed.

[Sally Roberts]

601 Brent North is in London and used to be a Conservative Seat (held by Dr Sir Rhodes Boyson). I think the composition of the seat has changed rather since then - I'm sure there is someone with more local knowledge then I have who could clarify - and I think it will be a challenge, but not an unsurmountable one.

[John Pope]

What both Chester and Southport need is a good local candidate who works and works and works.

Brenda Porter is a superb Councillor for Ainsdale and would be a superb for MP for Southport.

I disagree with the Deputy Editor. I think Chester needs to pick one of its own. It has a number of great Councillors and activists. If I had a vote, I would go for Stephen Mosley.

[Mastiff]

Portsmouth South is a re-run as well. I hope they do it this time - previously, the editor of the local paper was lined up to chair the primary and then it was cancelled - doh!

Chester - there is more than one local councillor who believes they have earned the right to that seat. Should get very interesting indeed - I hope the Association stays united after the selection.

I am a bit surprised Eastleigh's process is in full flow as well over 50 people applied. There was a row going on over the selection committee (as it is in supported status) but I thought that should have been resolved by now.

[Hough Green]

I dont normally comment but I would like to endorse the idea of Fiona Bruce for Chester, she has been busy canvassing for us for a long time now without making a show and dance. She is also above the petty in-fighting that has dogged the association for so long.
Her ward isnt in Chester city but she isnt an outsider to the area by any means.

Failing that anyone who isnt a southerner trying to bag a nice seat for themselves will get my vote.

[Derek]

Stephen Mosley is the man for Chester but is he on the list? I know he equally competent wife is.

Stephen started the turn around in Chester's fortunes by taking a safe Labour seat on teh council and nurturing it until it became safe Tory.

I helped in Chester before the May elections and found the association to be very focussed and very united.

Fiona Bruce would be an excellant choice but I think after years of picking outsiders we need a local person. I hope Stephen is on the list.

[Steve]

Agree that Fiona Bruce is an excellent candidate and would be good for Chester, but:

The fact that she's been canvassing there is, let's me honest, simply an attempt by her to get herself known ahead of this selection. Fair play to her but not everyone is able to do this.

Secondly, I know these threads offer everyone the opportunity to endorse particular candidates but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the editorial staff of this site doing so. It doesn't inspire confidence regarding the treatment of other candidates.

There are a number of good councillors in Chester and excellent candidates outside Chester but local enough to fight this seat as well. Any of them, and Fiona Bruce would make a great MP. Good luck to them all.

[Tory Lady]

St Ives is a rock solid Liberal Democrat seat held by Andrew George. He achieved the seat by following age dated and well proved ideas held by the Libs on how to win seats, non of it is rocket science, but arrogantly not adhered too by the Conservatives. He will not be shifted by anybody. His attitude is very local minded and is popular. The seat has suffered badly by a ripple effect from the nearby Falmouth and Camborne conservative troubles of the last three years and recent arguments over a transfer of capital assets to the Cornwall Association. It is a financially rich Conservative Association and has been resistant to losing its wealth.
A local councillor, Derek James is rumoured to being groomed for the seat. He has had a lot of success in being in the Finals for a number of seats and has won local elections from the Liberal Democrats. Whom ever wins will have their work cut out to root out a strong liberal network.

[michael]

I'd normally not give the safe-seat baggers from the south a second glance but as a result of the infighting in Chester the likely candidates from the local association have all got black marks on them.

[Deputy Editor]

MacClavity, happy for you to email me if you want to ask me something.

Steve, your comment is very fair on the whole but I don't think I've been out of order re: personal endorsements.

Note that I chose to give my tuppence worth on those two seats in a comment and not in the post itself. I'm sensitive to what you said so I'd like to know why you think I shouldn't do that when anyone else can. People in politics and the media always have their biases but I think in this case mine are transparent and don't constitute an abuse of power.

If your problem is that my opinion might swing others' because it's my opinion then you have generously overestimated my influence and not so generously underestimated the intelligence of the dear reader and the Conservatives in Chester of which I am not one!

As I was open about last time Fiona came up here, I worked for her in the run-up to election 05. She hasn't contacted me about this selection and I know would hate me saying this publically:

Unlike many aspiring politicians she is genuinely, inherently selfless in her community work. It's a way of life for her so she doesn't make a "song and dance" about it and a most of what she does is person-to-person and never heard about.

Her moral backbone, extraordinary capacity for hard work, and achievements in campaigning and local government complete what for me is a very fine recipe for a Conservative MP.

As for Brenda Porter; anyone political who knows anything about Southport will know her about her deserved popularity, as does anyone in Southport who knows anything about politics. There may be another knight in shining armour to emerge on the horizon but from my vantage point Brenda is perfectly pitched for this seat.

[Steve]

Thanks for that Dep Ed. I don't think that your opionions are at all invalid and indeed are very fair. I don't know Brenda Porter but do know Fiona Bruce and everything you say about her is true. I agree she would make an excellent MP. I only wish Warrington was a little stronger as she would be absolutely perfect in her own back yard.

I know it may seem a little unreasonable but in the interests of strict impartiality when it comes to candidate selection, I do think editorial staff should not disclose their views. I appreciate though that in being open and honest you thus remove any possibility of underhandedness and I have no doubt that you would report honestly all issues regarding these selections.

But if you see it from the perspective of other candidates, it can look like bias. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, there will be very many high quality candidates suitable for Chester, including those as local and as experienced as Fiona. Some you may know, others you will not. But you have singled out just one for praise, naming her as 'perfect' for the seat.

It just doesn't sit comfortably with me but obviously I accept you're entitled to your views! It's just that other candidates may feel a little hard done by that they are not publically endorsed whilst one of their competition is - by the editorial staff of a Conservative website.

[Stephen Sobey]

Tory Lady has been misinformed. Andrew George's position in St Ives is more precarious than might be intitially thought. With the latest boundary review he loses the heavily Lib-Dem town of Hayle (where he lives) to the Camborne/Redruth seat, which will slash his majority down to an estimated 6,000. In May the Conservatives came within one seat of taking Penwith Council outright, and are already effectively in charge of the council anyway.

Mr George has also made himself very unpopular with his blind support of Cornwall County Council's bid to become a unitary authority, which the Conservatives opposed.
Out of the six areas in Cornwall, 89% of Penwith residens voted against the proposal, the hightest margin anywhere in the county.

It is still a long shot for the Conservatives, but not insurmountable with the right (local) candidate who is willing to have a go more than once at shifting AG.

And I think you mean Cllr Derek Thomas, not Derek James.

[Sage]

Mosley does seem to have the favour of some in the exec. On an entirely unrelated note, one hopes that the selection isn't overtly skewed towards a mason. 21st century modern compassionate conservatives and all that.

[WilliamR.]

Ref Stephen Sobey @16.50. Tory Lady is right that St Ives is rock solid Liberal Democrat. George is very popular. The vote you refer to about the Unitary Authority was 85% of a small handful of people. - certainly not 1000s or even 500,000. Conservatism locally is in conflict certainly. You refer to a Derek Thomas as being parachuted into the seat rather than Derek James. In line with the Cornish Papers and the contest which is running to name the Tory Candidates, it is not surprising if even Tory Lady doesn't know Whats what or Who's Who. Also by the way your name has been touted on the prospective applicants list. Are you local?

[Tory Lady]

If you look on www.conservatives.com it appears St Ives have already selected, as they have a PPC named and in place. If I have got the preferred candidates name wrong as Stephen Sobey suggests @ 15:45, is it surprising when even CCHQ can get it so badly wrong. I do not have much confidence in the ability of CCHQ to organise and administer the Conservatives, starting with the Candidates department. It was CCHQ afterall which got things so badly wrong during the Crossley Saga, which is causing many of the problems we are seeing today in Cornwall. Why are the Cornwall Agents not pro-active in rectifying these blunderous mistakes?
Also this errata is not isolated as other Candidates in the wild west of Cornwall are posted in the "wrong Seats". Editor, I despair that we should have any hope of winning a seat in Cornwall!! Where is the mighty guiding hand of the Cornwall Ministry? Is it surprising when the local Papers are telling their readers that they are confused with the names of the Tory PPCs.

[Stephen Sobey]

I maintain that St Ives is not entirely safe for the LDs for the reasons outlined above.

I think that the poll of residents of Penwith was of many thousand residents, and I will report back in this space on Tuesday with the exact figures when I am back in my office and have figures at hand. Although, even if it were of only 100 people, it is still the most effective barometer of the depth of public antipathy to the Lib Dem proposals to establish a single council. I believe that the County Council foisting these proposals on Cornwall with no consultation is an affront to democracy.

I have checked the Conservative website, the candidate that is listed for St Ives is John Woodward. John was selected for Camborne/Redruth almost a year ago, and as I mentioned in my earlier post, Hayle was formerly in the St Ives division but has been reallocated. The website states clearly: "Parliamentary Spokesmen are being selected for the new boundaries, but wherever possible have been assigned to existing constituencies. This has caused some inaccuracies, particularly in our postcode search. This is a temporary problem, and we apologise for any confusion caused."

So this technical problem is a result of the boundary shift, and will all be cleared up when we have a candidate in St Ives. Not wishing to be offensive, but it would be so much more productive to be positive, rather than pouring scorn on everything the Party is trying to achieve in Cornwall. We did secure record numbers of councillors recently, especially in Penwith. Perhaps we could celebrate this rather than mocking the Party's efforts to highlight LD failures?

William, I am surprised anyone has spoken of me in these terms, I am very local, but no I am not going forward for the selection. Does the R stand for Rogers by any chance?

[PETER]

I thought the New Constituencies in England, as recommended by the Boundary Commission, came into effect in the middle of June 2007. If this is so CCHQ has had more than enough time to ensure Candidates are posted in the correct Constituency. As well as St Ives, I would add that Candidates for Truro,as well as St Austell are all designated incorrectly. Even Cornwall Conservatives website briefs that the PPC for Truro is campaigning in the adjacent seat. Two months to get this right on Conservatives.com website is more than adequate, and highlights inefficiencies in CCHQ Administration. It is no wonder the Cornish Newspapers are at sixes and nines as to who's who!

[Hunter]

Well said Dep Ed.
The Party should have *at least* three full-time web people.

[Anthony Broderick]

It doesn't surprise me that Sam's sticking his neck out for Fiona Bruce she's always had a very loyal following. Danny Kruger reported at the time of the last election campaign that our (Warringon's) leaflet delivery network consisted of over 600 regular leafleters who were assigned to their own streets. 95% of those people were delivering for Fiona and not the party, we only have about 15 left. He and others speculated that operationally it was the best campaign in the country. It was also ahead of Cameron's time in its shying from Howard's narrow core vote agenda and focus on community projects etc. We would have selected her again without any official process but sadly the boundary commission piled two rock solid Labour voting wards into the constituency after that so a talent like Fiona is right to look for other Cheshire seats. I wish her all the luck in the world.

[Femail Candidate]

Stephen Sobey highlights the term "Parliamentary Spokesmen" being used in these confused statements on Conservatives.com. eg for St Ives. I have also checked them out and they are misleading. One point which strikes me is that four Candidates chosen in Cornwall are Women. As Mr Sobey is an apologist for the Party how does he explain why we are not called "Spokeswomen"

[Louise]

I'm not one of those people who moan about local councillors getting selected all the time I think it's usually the best way. Cllrs' experience of handling issues and people is a great asset.
However, the councillors on Chester council are okay at what they do but theyre just not in the league of being a ppc for a Con Gain seat.
The man who's most obviously keen on getting himself the nomination has never shown any social skills at all!! The association runs a good tight ship but I can't bear the thought of the best person not getting the job because of the networks they in. Not least because of how it will look to the local opinion formers.
The poster above was wrong to brush off the local conservatives for their 'office politics', new blood is needed for talent reasons i'm afraid.
It's a fantastic seat so may the BEST man, or woman, represent it.

[Warminster Whisperer]

Chester always seems to get people going!

After the local elections I imagine every woman and her cat from the south will be having a go, but they needn't apply. The final shortlist of four has to have two women (three or four is possible but perhaps unlikely). They'll almost certainly be taken up by the afore mentioned new woman on the block, and a local female councillor who has tried to get it before.

[Editor]

I've blocked a comment for being written by the same person as John Pope and Derek (and Maclavity the Cat), and saying the same things. I won't delete the other comments for now but that's not on.

[Elrafa]

This Fiona Bruce love in is a bit much.

She got lucky with the NHS issue in Warrington South, which raised her profile. The swing to her was identical to that in Warrington north and not much better than other adjacent seats such as Weaver Vale. Neither of which hit the jackpot with an issue that went national.

She may very well be a good candidate but a bit of perspective wouldn't go amiss.

[Sage]

So the only comments that supported the idea of Mosley being selected were all by him or one of his mates?! Sad really...

[Caroline Best]

Fair point from Elrafa. Fiona Bruce is a good candidate but she's simply one of many in the north west who would be ideal in Chester.

I don't think they desperately need a Chester based candidate but he/she should be from the region. Southerners don't even bother applying!

Agree the Stephen Mosley comments have been laughable.

[Insider]

I have it on good authority that the "female councillor who tried for Chester before" will NOT be applying for the seat.

The shortlist will therefore likely be:
Stephen or Caroline Mosley
Mike Jones
Fiona Bruce
and one other.

[Steve]

Is that Mike Jones the Chester councillor? I always thought he wasn't interested and preferred to play the 'kingmaker'. Interesting.

Still, not a bad guesstimate for a shortlist. Two locals and ideally two near locals would be the best choice. Fiona Bruce is as good as any, plus one further decent external candidate (and with experience of fighting a seat please - not someone looking for experience - can't be risked with this seat).

[Stewart Geddes]

Femail candidate makes the following comment how does he explain why we are not called "Spokeswomen".

Spokesesman is the office held as is the office of Chairman. This is the correct grammatical english term for persons of either sex holding the office.

Anything else is simply PC nonsense otherwise the reductio ad absurdo would prevent the use of person....

[Jawn]

Having had the opportunity to have worked for Fiona Bruce on her Warrington South campaign, seeing her in action day-to-day, I'd like to say that for anyone who knows her it is not a matter of subjectivity, but her selfless (and tireless) dedication to the area she serves sets her head and shoulders above the crowd of career politicians. She really is something different, and I hope for Chester's sake they have the good sense to select her.

[Bill]

Sorry Jawn but although Fiona is an excellent candidate, I think you go over the top.

For all her "selfless dedication to the area she serves" (ie Warrington), it's not enough it seems to see her fight the seat again, despite living there and having a successful legal practice in the town.

In applying for Chester, she is by definition a career politician, or else she'd be sticking with Warrington South.

I'm not blaming her in the slightest for doing this but it does demonstrate she's not quite the political saint some would make her out to be.

She's simply one of many excellent local(ish) candidates who would be great as Chester's MP.

[Hazel Wakeham]

As a South Warrington resident, I value the opportunity to support Fiona Bruce for Chester. Her hard work and dedication has helped put Penketh back on the map! Our concerns have been listened to and her many successes on our behalf have been well documented in the regular new letters posted to every Penketh home. She would make an excellent MP. So - if Chester wants an MP who works, and works and works - Fiona is for you.

[Deputy Editor]

Another person is trying to make comments under different names, please don't.

[C List and Proud]

As any candidate who wins will then proceed to spend 200-250 days a year in Westminster, what is the big hang up with this local candidate stuff?

Most of the so-called locals already work/live in London, Manchester, Birmingham or Leeds anyway.

Selection should be on experience and ability to do the job of an MP. Knowing Mrs Miggins from the local pie shop makes you good local Councillor.

[Michael Rutherford]

"Chester - there is more than one local councillor who believes they have earned the right to that seat."

If they think they have "earned the right" to the seat then they're probably a poor candidate. No one has a right to any seat, they need to be better than the other candidates.

I really don't see why so many associations feel they need to select "one of their own". I think there is a lot to be said for thinking more widefly than that.

In terms of being a local candidate, I think it's more about image than actual meaning. As long as a candidate lives in the constituency or moves there it won't lead to any negative publicity.

[Steve]

When the seat is marginal, being local or not can make the difference between winning and losing the seat.

I agree it's hardly ideal and isn't fair but it's a fact. And yes, if the candidate moves to the seat, so much the better.

But particularly in 'the north', which is perceived, wrongly, as a Tory free zone, selecting a southern based candidate sends out a message that there isn't anyone of sufficient calibre locally to fight the seat. This can be instantly damaging.

[Warrington Resident]

Its clear why such a good candidate as FIONA BRUCE is seeking a fresh challenge. Since she fought Warrington South in 2005 the constituency has been subject to a major boundary change which is unhelpful to the Conservatives. She has despite this continued to serve as a Warrington Councillor; in 2006 she took up an Executive Councillor role with the title 'Value for Money' and as such has already saved Warrington tax payers over £2.5million! She's shown commitment to Warrington and now deserves a wider platform. Good luck Fiona.

[Jawn]

In applying for Chester, Fiona Bruce is not cementing herself as a career politician, it is completely the opposite. She is showing some real backbone by continuing to fight in the northwest, hardly traditional Tory ground. By all accounts she could have secured herself a nice safe seat somewhere down south.

Warrington South will not be won by the Conservatives, so clearly she cannot serve that area by running for MP there, and to do so would be a waste of her considerable talents. It is obtuse to suggest our best and brightest waste away in Labour strongholds, though I'm quite sure that's what Labour and the Lib Dems would want. The best we can ask for is to have her on the attack close by.

[Bill]

Touched a nerve there! Lol. I don't deny Fiona is a great candidate, but the projected Warrington South majority has only moved from 3500 to 5000. She's a councillor in the town and has a successful legal practice there. Thus she's an ideal candidate for the seat. Yes it would be a battle but she's just the kind of candidate that seat needs.

The fact that she didn't apply demonstrates that she wants to push on and get to Westminster by a better route. Like I say, I don't blame her at all, but it does make her a career politician. Otherwise, why not fight for your home town?

It's nothing to be ashamed of but please don't try to deny the obvious.

[Insider]

Chester is going for an Open Primary. I think this will all but give the post to Stephen Mosley.

Is it just me, or was the Chairman of Chester Conservatives against an open primary?

[Jawn]

Bill, you didn't touch a nerve at all, however you're demonstrating a severe lack of understanding of the situation.

To call Fiona Bruce a career politician is obviously pejorative. She is not in politics for the plaudits. Her commitment to becoming an mp is not out of a desire for self-service, nor an accolade for the trophy cabinet, but from a desire to serve in that capacity. There's no doubt about her talent, credentials or integrity, so there is no cause for you to confuse the issue.

[Bill]

Jawn: please explain my severe lack of understanding of the situation or how I have 'confused' the issue.

Fiona is a councillor in Warrington. Fact. She has a successful legal practice there. Fact. She fought a good campaign last time. Fact. The seat is marginal and still winnable (especially by a good local candidate). Fact.

Fiona chooses not to fight the seat but to apply for a safer seat. Fact.

I say again I understand why she's doing it and don't blame her at all; but by looking for seats away from her own winnable, but far too marginal, 2005 seat, she is, by definition, a career politician. She wants a safer seat so she can push on to Westminster. Fair play to her.

[Anthony Broderick]

I wouldn't describe Warrington South as winnable the B.Commission in its infinite wisdom have put two rock solid Labour wards into it from Warrington North... so now Fiona's good work has been more than undone and there are two safish Labour seats rather than safe one.