Rebecca Harris selected for Castle Point

Rebecca Harris today pipped Dominic Schofield to the post to win the selection for Castle Point, out of the shortlist of eight. Castle Point is a Conservative seat currently held by defector to UKIP Bob Spink MP.

Rebecca Harris - who "worked in publishing, then later for the Conservative Research Department and as a special adviser helping to put together party policies on health, education and transport at the last election" - had been in the final for next week´s Bournemouth West final with Mike Greene.

Comments

[Andrew Bradley]

No problem with her selection. At least it will save her traipsing over to Bournemouth. What is the Con majority that this UKIP defector idiot has? It does make you seriously question how any one can be selected as a Con who then defects to UKIP - a dying party in my view. However I do admit to a certain sneaking admiration for their leader I think, whose name escapes me, who admitted in the DT or Times to drinking 5 pints before doing press interviews or something similar. Most of us would be under the table by then.

Does this mean that an opponent will be put up in Bournemouth against the Camden councillor chappie whose wife is also a councillor. To paraphrase Andy Murray - for those anoraks he is a tennis player, I am in favour of any candidate who is not a councillor. How about daughter of Fred?

[Tom Greeves]

GREAT NEWS!

This is tremendous.

[Dave H]

I was impressed with the performance Rebecca put in at the final in Chester.

Congratulations Rebecca.

[Matt]

Andrew, Caroline Dinenage will stand in Bournemouth West against Mike Greene, as she was the reserve candidate should Rebecca Harris get selected in Castle Point.

[Tracey]

Well done Rebecca! This is fantastic news.

[Saxred]

Another CCHQ worker gets a PPC - talking increasing representation of society is so one dimensional that it stinks. This is as bad as the MEP selection farce.

[Ian Lewis]

I met Rebecca during her application to Chester. She seems to be a very likeable, reliable and 'normal' person. Good selection!

[Simon]

Rebecca was a runner-up in Chester and I was very impressed, well done to her, a long search and richly deserved.

[Vicky Ford]

I can not begin to say how delighted I am that Rebecca is selected in Castle Point.

She is an outstanding candidate who deserved to have been snapped up many months ago. Rebecca is not only highly, highly intelligent but down to earth, compassionate and practical too. Her experiences of running a business, leading campaigns across the country and being a mum all combine to make her a force to be reckoned with in any debate. Castle Point has been thrown into the spotlight by Spink and deserve a great candidate who will make an exceptional MP- they have got one.

Personally, of course, I think its fantastic news that she is going to be in the East of England. Well done Castle Point.

[theduke]

Saxred what do you expect? people who are interested in politics are likely to want to work in politics, and generally that means for a certain party. so is any surprise that someone who works for the party wants to be an MP? stop being so bloody stupid and think before you post.

[boring]

Vicky Ford please spare us all from your comments. Just relax and enjoy the fact that you have got a winnable place on the Euro list next year through a system Mugabe would be proud of and remember you are not there on any merit. It was not democratic and you did not win. Everyone will remember that throughout your career. Though I do congratulate Rebecca on achieving what you, Vicky, never managed in getting selected by getting the most votes. And on merit. Well done Rebecca.

[michael mcgough]

Just returned from a superb packed event at Bob Spink's in aid of the local church with top act the Drifters.

No idiot Bob,and no dying party-----Rebecca is no shoe in for Dave!

[Graham D'Amiral]

Congratulations to Rebecca, She performed very well throughout the selection process in Old bexley & Sidcup and I'm delighted to see her selected for somewhere so soon afterwards.

[John D]

My God 'boring', is that a gorge sized chip I spot on your shoulder?

Congratulations Rebecca.
Vicky, you at least have my support... though I am nought but a humble 'ordinary' party member.

[Sally Roberts]

"boring" that was a particularly unkind and unwarranted comment and although I don't know either Rebecca Harris or Vicky Ford I wish them both well!
Editor - if this thread is moderated why do you allow comments such as "boring"'s to get through?

[John Glen]

Many congratulations to Rebecca;at CCHQ and in selections Rebecca has always been one of those people who "tells it how it really is" - I feel we need more such people in Parliament. Her track record and determination will mean that her constituents will get great service for many years ahead. However, I feel bad for Dominic - a great character, a fine campaigner ( in Basildon in 2001 and Battersea in 2005)and someone who knows how to fight a sustained campaign in tough circumstances. He really deserves a good seat and I thought Castle Point in his native Essex was the right fit. However, this selection business is a tough, unpredicatable and long road. I am glad that someone outstanding has found their destination and I just hope Dominic can park up somewhere soon!

[Zoe Healy]

Congratulations to Rebecca and Castle Point! This is marvellous news.

[Essex Boy]

I was at the selection process in Castle Point in Richmond Hall yesterday and Rebecca stood out head and shoulders above the other candidates who, it must be said, were of a high quality.

I feel she will be a credit to the local party and we have a candidate who will take on Spink and his "personal followers", who, I suspect, like the band in his garden will "drift away".

[Kirk]

Both Rebecca and Dominic are good people and true Conservatives.

CCHQ was very lucky to have their services for a while, but anyone who thinks this makes them party clones obviously doesn't know them.

[Zehra Zaidi]

Congratulations to Rebecca. She is compassionate, approachable, incredibly hardworking and intelligent.

[Cameron Watt]

Congratulations Rebecca - you will be an excellent MP.

[Editor]

Sally: boring's comment was mean but not beyond the pale.

[Manterik]

Good Luck Rebecca, you sound like a first class candidate. Well done.

[Joe James Broughton]

I know very little about Vicky Ford, but I'm not sure what the appropriately named "boring"'s problem is.
I see Vicky Ford stood in Birmingham Northfield in 2005 - is he/she saying we could have gained it at that time?

Congratulations to Rebecca Harris, and to Vicky Ford in her campaign.

Some of the spiteful and cowardly anonymous comments are really starting to grate.

[Saxred]

Theduke - your point is misguided; DC "says" he wants the party ot be reflective of the nation- this cannot be achieved if so many MPs and PPCs have one of three backgrounds ie; Party Worker, Lawyer, Financier. Thes make up well over 50% of our MPs and PPCs. Not at all represenative of the nation. It is no good replacing a series of white males with woman and BMEs if their backgound is so one dimensional. Can I suggest that before you make silly personal posts you follow the green cross code - stop, look and listen, before you let yopur hands near the keyboard.

[Roger Helmer]

"Boring" cannot blame Vicky Ford for the MEP selection process. Like the rest of us, she was stuck with the system the Party prescribed. Given the system as it was, she deserves credit for working within it and achieving a winnable position. I don't know her well but I am impressed by what I have seen so far.

[Gregory B]

Congratulations to Rebecca, who I am sure will be a fine candidate. My thoughts do go out to Dominic, though, who is one of the warmest and most genuine guys around. I was more than a little surprised and disappointed Castle Point didn't go for him. Let's hope the association didn't bow to CCHQ pressure in this selection...! Someone robust was needed to withstand what will be a tough campaign. Given his proven record as a campaigner and his connections with the constituency, Dominic seemed an ideal choice. Never mind; you can't keep a good man down. I am sure Dominic will be snapped up soon and again prove to be an oustanding candidate.

[Stephen Castle]

Well done to Rebecca! - I chaired the "Big Event" in Castle Point and I thought that all eight of the candidates that got through to that round were excellent. Dominic is an old friend of mine and he performed superbly but all of us who have been through selections know that it is a fickle business. I am sure that Rebecca will be an excellant member of parliament and I look forward to her doing somthing that I never managed - beating Spink!

[Giovanni]

THis is fantastic news. Rebecca is an excellent campaigner and knows the Conservative party and its activists through and through. Mr Spink has just been served his notice. He had best start clearing out his desk at Westminster now!

[NorthLondoner]

I don't think "boring"'s comments were bad enough to be moderated out. Get a grip!

I haven't seen anyone defend the system that saw Vicky selected.

[Jane Gould]

saxred - I agree totally. no time ot write more. real person . real timetable.

[David_McD]

Another budding politician who, in the mould of David Cameron, has never done a real job. Can we really expect such people to provide good effective government and to set a framework to revive our knackered economy?

I hope Dr Spink (who, untypically for an MP, put principle and country before career and financial gain) sends her back in tears to the Conservative Resarch Department.

[Gospel of Enoch]

"... true Conservative"? has she signed BOO, then? Or is she yet more Blue Labour?

[alex]

Well done Rebecca-good luck!

I am sure the editor was right not to moderate boring's comment. It is certainly true that the MEP selection procedure was a bad process which must not be repeated, but as that renowned liberal Roger Helmer has stated above, that is hardly the fault of the candidates.

I'm equally sure they won't edit out my view that the author of that comment is patently unpleasant, mean spirited, cowardly (as they are obviously unwilling to be named) and a disgrace to the Conservative party if indeed he or she is a member.

[Steve Brine]

I know Rebecca and have worked with her. She will make a fine candidate and an even better Member of Parliament. Congratulations!

[Debbie]

I was privileged to get to know Rebecca during our selection process in North East Cambs. She is not only intelligent and incredibly hardworking, she is also honest and tremendous fun. I'm thrilled she has won the seat and will become a whirlwind of activity to ensure that her campaign is successful. Just keep her away from skips!