The new seat of Witham comprises elements of four former seats and is a notional safe seat with a Conservative majority of approx 7000. Most of the current shortlist, to be trimmed on Monday, is as follows:
James Brokenshire (MP for Hornchurch)
Geoffrey Van Orden (Eastern Region MEP)
Howard Flight (Former MP for Arundel and South Downs)
Julia Manning (Health professional, Bristol East PPC in 2005)
James Cleverly (Lewisham East PPC in 2005)
Priti Patel (Nottingham North PPC in 2005)
Iain Dale (Norfolk North PPC in 2005)
Dominic Schofield (Battersea PPC in 2005)
Ali Miraj (Aberavon PPC in 2001 and Watford PPC in 2005)
Sarah Candy (Businesswoman and Essex County council cabinet member)
Kit Malthouse (Former Deputy Leader of Westminster Council)
Giles Inglis-Jones (former soldier and PPC for Ashfield, now HR and Development Director at CCHQ) * Added 4/11/06
Simon Walker (media company executive and former member of the Downing Street Policy Unit) * Added 4/11/06
Charles Elphicke (CPS Research Fellow, St. Albans PPC in 2001) and local man Kevin Bentley (Colchester PPC 2005) are also in the running, but unlike the others I don't believe they are on the A list. Anne McIntosh (MP for Vale of York) and Tim Collins (former MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale) didn't make it.
Update 7/11/06: The list has narrowed to seven...
James Brokenshire
Charlie Elphicke
John Glen
Kit Malthouse
Julia Manning
Geoffrey van Orden
Priti Patel
8/11/06: East Anglian Daily Times story on the shortlist and Ali Miraj comments
Deputy Editor
