Central Office's ambition to increase the number of female Tory candidates has enjoyed a few good days but at least one Association has not been willing to meekly agree to David Cameron's half-women shortlists. Mid-Norfolk - one of the plum seats currently selecting - told CCHQ that they would choose according to their own criteria and would not be bound by artificial quotas. As it happens the Association is choosing roughly 50% men and 50% women but it is happening naturally rather than by diktat. Mid-Norfolk's declaration of independence should encourage every other Association wanting to choose in its own way.
The eleven candidates remaining in the race are as follows (it has been updated in recent days as other contenders have been selected elsewhere):
- John Flack
- Vicky Ford
- George Freeman
- Samuel Gyimah
- Brandon Lewis
- Kit Malthouse
- Anne Marie Morris
- Priti Patel
- Adam Rickitt
- Laura Sandys
- James Tunbridge
The field of eleven will be thinned down to four tomorrow and the final selection will be on the 21st.
