On Saturday Mid Norfolk chose two men and two women to go through to the final selection meeting. A half-women shortlist was exactly what CCHQ wanted but the good Tories of Mid Norfolk didn't choose Vicky Ford and Laura Sandys because they had to choose two women. No. They chose them because they decided that they deserved to be in the top four.
The Association rejected Gillian Shephard's instruction (who was acting on behalf of CCHQ) to use a half-women shortlist (according to Central Office's new guidelines) but naturally ended up with a two men, two women shortlist in a much more meritocratic way.
Mid Norfolk also told CCHQ that the whole Association would take part in the final selection - not just the Executive as Gillian Shephard had also attempted to impose.
Mid Norfolk is a model for every Association. If you think people should be shortlisted on merit - not according to a quota - and that every member of the Association has the right to help choose your candidate then stand by your convictions and politely ignore CCHQ's diktats.
