William Norton: Is the "A" list turning a corner?

The new A List/Gold List/Priority List has been, shall we say, just a shade controversial.  There have been predictions of internal civil war/electoral meltdown/the end of civilisation if the Party either went ahead with the idea, or didn't.  There has certainly been a degree of unease if not to say confusion at the constituency association level about how the system is meant to work: Priority List candidates cannot as yet be imposed, but CCHQ would appreciate it if members of the list were given special consideration.

 

The first few parliamentary selections under the new arrangements have now taken place and we are in a position to form an early view.  It seems that there has been a dangerous outbreak of level-headed common sense.

 

BROMLEY & CHISLEHURST

Short-list: two A-Listers plus 1 local

Outcome: Bob Neil (local) selected

CENTRAL DEVON

Short-list: 3 A-Listers

Outcome: Mel Stride (A-Lister) selected

MID-DERBYSHIRE

Long-list: 30 candidates, mainly A-Listers

Outcome: Pauline Latham (local A-Lister) selected

 

CHIPPENHAM:

Short-list: two A-Listers plus 1 local

Outcome: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (A-Lister) selected

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SOUTH:

Short-list: two A-Listers plus 1 local

Outcome: Andrea Leadsom (A-Lister) selected

The initial reaction must be that local associations, when they get to see A-Listers in action, are not recoiling in horror but are quite able to draw up a short-list of applicants they like and select a quality candidate who commands their confidence.  In crude and brutal  "Change-to-Win" terms these selections - Britain's only black farmer, a widely-respected social entrepreneur, two women - can be held to have vindicated David Cameron's bold gamble in launching the Priority List.  Bromley & Chislehurst, as a by-election choice, can be treated as a special case since (as Francis Maude has pointed out) the Priority List is not meant to cover such situations.

 

Sceptics would probably argue that in each case the candidate actually selected was good enough to have been chosen by a constituency anyway.  That may well be true as a general point - and is certainly true in the examples cited above.  But surely one of the points of the Priority List is that it draws attention to potential parliamentary candidates with special qualities?  If a short-list mainly comprises A-Listers, and they are different A-Listers in each case, then it suggests at the very least that the right people are getting onto the A-List.

 

It would be churlish to deny CCHQ credit for having called this issue correctly so far - and credit should also be given to the various constituency officers for providing their associations with such formidable and impressive short-lists.  Above all, congratulations should go to the successful applicants in these seats and our best wishes for their early return to Parliament.