ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Dewsbury shortlist

Jo Barker, Mark Brooks, Kevin Hollinrake, Andrew Lee, Robert Light and Karen Woods have been shortlisted for Dewsbury, which has a notional Labour majority of just under 5000.

Deputy Editor

CCHQ announces 18 more seats for selection

The deadline for this latest tranche of seats is 2pm on Monday 11th June:

1. Batley and Spen
2. Blackpool South
3. Chorley
4. Eastleigh
5. Ellesmere Port and Neston
6. Hazel Grove
7. Hendon
8. North East Derbyshire
9. Penistone and Stocksbridge
10. Sheffield Hallam
11. Stretford and Urmston
12. Thornbury and Yate
13. Thurrock
14. Walsall North
15. Walsall South
16. Wolverhampton North East
17. Wolverhamton South East
18. Yeovil

Phil Willis to quit Harrogate seat

BBC Online is reporting that LibDem Phil Willis will quit the Harrogate and Knaresborough seat that he won from the Conservatives in 1997 - against a challenge from from Tory Chancellor Norman Lamont.  The seat now has a healthy projected LibDem majority of 7,811.  Our candidate - Andrew Jones - was adopted in March.

Tim Archer selected for Poplar and Limehouse

Tower Hamlets councillor Tim Archer was adopted for Poplar & Limehouse yesterday evening on the first ballot.  He overcame opposition from Cllr Lucy Allan, Eleanor Jupp and Judith Symes.

Zac Goldsmith hopes to hold referendum to oppose a Sainsbury's in Barnes

The Conservative candidate for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith, is hoping to hold a referendum in the Barnes part of the constituency (approximately 4,500 households and 8,000 voters) to oppose the planned construction of a Sainsbury's supermarket there.  Mr Goldsmith's reasons for opposing the supermarket were stated in a recent press release:

“All too often, superstores can have a negative impact on local communities, pushing small shops into bankruptcy and homogenising our high streets. There is no justification for a new superstore in Barnes, and more importantly, there is no demand for one. If this development is allowed to happen against the wishes of local residents, it will make a mockery of local democracy. But it’s not too late to stop this development. The Council has the power to hold a local referendum to show the strength of opposition to Sainsbury’s development.”

The LibDem-controlled council (which blames central government for the supermarket's go-ahead) has declined to hold a referendum but Mr Goldsmith is hoping to work with the Electoral Reform Society to hold a non-binding ballot that will send a clear message to Sainsbury's that its supermarket isn't wanted.

Speaking to ConservativeHome yesterday Mr Goldsmith said that he hoped the cost of the ballot would not be greater than £1 per household and he has vowed to raise the necessary funds.

Editor's comment: "ConservativeHome does not share Zac Goldsmith's general objections to supermarkets as long as competition considerations are fully considered but it does welcome his initiative in standing up for Barnes residents.  It should be local people that make decisions like this and the emasculation of local government in control of their communities is very disappointing.  It is also true that all politics is local - particularly when you're facing the LibDems.  This is exactly the sort of issue and championing of local people - in a non-partisan way - that could move Richmond Park and other LibDem seats into the blue column.  Zac has promised to keep in touch with ConservativeHome about the progress of his campaign."

The costs of being a candidate (a continuing series)

After yesterday's news of Mark Bigley's decision to resign as a candidate, Torbay's Marcus Wood notes the strains and stresses of being a Conservative candidate on his blog:

"My Colleague Mark Bigley, the PPC for Southport, has stood down this week, he says for personal and family reasons.

Mark was, along with myself and about 22 others, a member of the small group of parliamentary candidates 'fast-tracked' immediately after the 2005 election in a programme designed to maintain the momentum built up in our seats.

He is the second 'fast track' PPC to resign recently; my good friend Paul Offer packed it in at the end of last year after complaining about dark deeds by some members of his association; but also I suspect because he had concerns about the diverting impact of being a PPC on his career.

The fact is being a candidate and nursing a seat is a huge commitment not just for oneself but also for the family. It is a massive financial commitment, I estimate that the cost to me personally of fighting the 2005 election measured in loss of earnings leading up to the election and then restoring my momentum afterwards, relocation, donations and supporting costs to be well over £150,000. And it is a constant demand on ones time and energy, David Camerons recent two visits to the bay involved me taking three days off work, the election a fourth, all in one month. How lucky I am to have a forgiving boss!"

£150,000.  Wow.  I don't know Marcus Wood and he is lucky to be able to absorb that kind of cost. ConservativeHome remains very disappointed that the party has done so little to help lower income people become and stay Conservative candidates despite our best efforts to highlight some ways forward in this area.

Candidate needed in Southport

Mark Bigley has today resigned his fast-tracked candidacy for Southport:

"It is clear that my main considerations must be to my family, and the people of Ainsdale who have given me their support. It is with great sadness that I therefore have taken the very hard decision to stand down as the Parliamentary Candidate at the next General Election. This decision will enable the Party sufficient time to find a new candidate with the time available to dedicate to this extremely important role. This decision will also enable me to continue to represent the people of Ainsdale to the best of my ability on Sefton Council."

Southport is one of the only seats in Merseyside that could feasibly turn blue at the next election although LibDem MP John Pugh held it against Bigley with an extra 1000 votes last time around,

Deputy Editor

Ian Gibb selected for Ealing North

More details of the seat and shortlist here.

Local councillor Phil Taylor has a comprehensive report on the evening.

Deputy Editor

19 more seats start selection process

1. Amber Valley
2. Barrow and Furness
3. Dewsbury
4. Crewe and Nantwich
5. Derby North
6. Dover
7. Gillingham and Rainham
8. Halifax
9. Harrow West
10. Hyndburn
11. Ipswich
12. North Cornwall
13. Nottingham South
14. Rochester and Strood
15. Sunderland Central
16. Wakefield
17. Waveney
18. Weaver Vale
19. West Lancashire

Dover, Gillingham and Rainham and North Cornwall are three seats that 'got away' from previous tranches.

The closing date for these applications is 2.00 pm on Monday Wednesday 23rd May.

1.30pm: CCHQ has just reissued the list as Derby North had already selected!  Must have given Stephen Mold a fright!  They also took the opportunity to correct the deadline for applications and to move Sunderland to the north east.  The original email had this seat in the south west.  Poor CCHQ.  I have days like that sometimes, too!

Cllr Nigel Dawkins selected for Selly Oak

Nigel beat Jo Barker, Thelma Matuk and Kulveer Ranger in last night's primary. In a statement to Birmingham University Conservative Future he said:

"At the end of the day the audience understand that my track record is serving the communities of Bournville, Stirchley and Cotteridge as a city councillor for the last 7 years made me the best qualified person to take the Conservative Party forward in Selly Oak."

Deputy Editor

Poplar & Limehouse open primary

Poplar & Limehouse Conservatives have shortlisted four candidates to go through to an open primary selection on Tuesday 15th May:

• Cllr Lucy Allan
• Cllr Tim Archer (Poplar & Canning Town PPC last time)
• Eleanor Jupp
• Judith Symes

After boundary changes, Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick has a notional majority of about 4000 over the Conservatives and 5000 over the LibDems.

Deputy Editor

8th May update: More info here on how to register for the primary.

Selly Oak open primary

The open selection for Birmingham Selly Oak (notional Lab maj over 8000) is on Saturday.

The candidates are Jo Barker, Cllr Nigel Dawkins, Thelma Matuk and Kulveer Ranger.

Download this form to attend if you are local.

Deputy Editor