ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Another incumbent-favouring factor in MEP selection

I understand that re-standing MEPs and candidates for the list will again be banned from attending party or constituency events in their respective regions during the crucial few months of the reselection - from January 4th 2008 to the close of postal ballots on March 25th.

There hardly seems to be much point in members having a say in the ranking of candidates if there are restrictions on meeting said candidates. Other than favouring incumbent MEPs who naturally have a high profile, what are the benefits of this so-called purdah? It's rather out of step with the healthy, democratic spirit of open primaries being used for London and many parliamentary selections.

Deputy Editor

Second coup against Gray cancelled?

Earlier this month there was news that Wiltshire North Conservatives had summoned up enough support to have another go at deselecting their MP, James Gray. There was near-consensus at the time that however you would have voted the first time around a second vote would be damaging and unnecessary, unless there was justified grievance about the process of the first vote.

Now James Gray's office are saying that the person who started the petition that triggered a Special General Meeting to "discuss James Gray's position as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate" after being signed by almost 200 members, wants to withdraw it. Gray says he would still like the SGM just to clear the air:

"I would be delighted to appear in front of a meeting and to answer any questions on any subject which the members of my Association might have" said Mr Gray," to draw a line under the malicious activities of a small group of people and reunite the Association well before any possible Election."

4.30pm update: It seems that Cllr Toby Sturgis, the man who James Gray is pointing the finger at, is on the Association's Management Committee with responsibility for membership. He was asked by the Committee to assess opinion within the association and so started a consultation. The 192 assents to having an SGM account for at least 80% of those asked, although Gray claims a number of his supporters who want to clear the air are included in this. The petition was withdrawn in the name of unity after a request from CCHQ to calm the waters ahead of a possible autumn election.

Deputy Editor

Fifth tranche of seats released

Closing date for applications is Monday 10th September.

Chester (re-run)
Dudley North
Dudley South
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (re-run)
Portsmouth South
Southport (re-run)
St Ives
Walsall North
Walsall South
Ynys Mon

For information on all constituencies and candidates click here for the most recent release of our database.

Deputy Editor

Matt Wright adopted for Vale of Clywd

ConservativeHome regular Matt Wright, the party's area chairman for North Wales, has been adopted for the Vale of Clywd - a seat with a projected Labour majority of 4,726.  Matt fought the Vale of Clwyd at May's Assembly elections and cut Labour's majority from 2,769 to just 92 with a 7.4% swing.

Suzy Davies adopted for Brecon and Radnorshire

Suzy Davies has been selected for Brecon and Radnorshire.  She was the Conservative candidate for the constituency in May's Welsh Assembly elections (increasing our vote by 4%) and was our candidate for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr at the last General Election.  She faces a projected LibDem majority of 3,905.

Spencer Pitfield adopted for Penistone and Stocksbridge

A selection we missed from last week: Dr Spencer Pitfield has been selected for the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency with its projected Labour majority of 8,849.  The South Yorkshire Star has the story.

James Gray faces second deselection vote

The Telegraph is reporting that James Gray is under renewed threat of deselection.  192 local Tories have signed a new petition calling for him to go.  That's enough to trigger another of the processes that James Gray won earlier this year.  I, personally, would have been tempted to vote for his deselection first time round but I think local Tories who oppose Mr Gray should accept that they lost the vote and get on with fighting the LibDems in North Wilts and in Chippenham.  Am I wrong?

The hereditary principle lives on in the Commons

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question about existing MPs and candidates who are sons or daughters of parliamentarians.  This is the list we collectively managed to produce:

Sitting MPs

1. Dominic Grieve, son of Percy Grieve
2. Douglas Hogg, son of Quintin Hogg
3. Nick Hurd, son of Douglas Hurd
4. Bernard Jenkin, son of Patrick Jenkin
5. Francis Maude, son of Angus Maude
6. Andrew Mitchell, son of David Mitchell
7. Nicholas Soames, son of Christopher Soames
8. Charles Walker, adopted son of former Labour Conservative MP Chris Chataway
9. Bill Wiggin, son of Gerry Wiggin

Candidates

1. Ben Gummer, son of John Gummer - Ipswich
2. Mark Pawsey, son of James Pawsey -  Rugby
3. Laura Sandys, daughter of Duncan Sandys - Thanet South
4. Robin Walker, son of Peter Walker - Worcester

Can anyone think of anyone else?

Ben Gummer selected for Ipswich

Ben Gummer was selected for Ipswich at yesterday's evening's open primary.  Congratulations to you, Ben.

Mr Gummer is the latest son of a Tory MP (existing or current) to aspire to parliament.  Nick Hurd, son of Douglas, and Bernard Jenkin, son of Patrick, already sit in Parliament.  Robin Walker, son of Peter, has been selected for Worcester.  Have I missed anyone else?

Byron Davies adopted for Gower

Byron Davies has been selected for the Labour seat of Gower - projected majority 6,703.  Mr Davies fought the seat at May's Assembly elections.  He then secured a 9.8% swing from Labour and cut the majority from 5,688 to 1,192.

Guto Bebb selected for Aberconwy

Guto Bebb (pictured with former Welsh Minister Lord Roberts) has been selected for Aberconwy.  He needs to overturn a projected Labour majority of 243 to become the constituency's Member of Parliament.  He fought Conwy in 2005.

Guto was featured in the eight minute 18DoughtyStreet.com video below:

Scottish priority seat selection timetable

Yesterday we noted the concern of Scottish Conservatives worried by the lack of timetable for the selection of candidates to Wetminster seats. Scottish Central Office have today sent out a list of dates for the selection in eight priority seats.

This is the list of seats together with the application deadline, the interview dates and the current majority:

Argyll & Bute 3rd September 2007 5th & 8th September 2007 Lib Dem majority 5636 (13%)

Moray 11th September 2007 13th & 16th September 2007 SNP majority 5676 (14.6%)

Dumfries & Galloway 17th September 2007 19th & 22nd September 2007 Labour majority 2922 (5.7%)

Angus 18th September 2007 20th & 23rd September 2007 SNP majority 1601 (4.2%)

Stirling 14th September 2007 21st & 25th September & 2nd October 2007 Labour majority 4767 (10.9%)

Perth & North Perthshire 24th September 2007 26th & 29th September 2007 SNP majority 1521 (3.3%)

Edinburgh South 25th September 2007 27th & 30th September 2007 Labour majority 405 (0.9%)

Ochil & South Perthshire 1st October 2007 3rd & 6th October 2007

The Chairman of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk is on holiday, but the date of that selection will be announced following his return.

When will Scotland's Tories start selecting?

ConservativeHome has been contacted by Scottish Conservatives worried at the lack of timetable for the selection of candidates for Westminster seats.  Both the Scottish and Welsh parties delayed any selections until after May's Edinburgh/ Cardiff elections but the Welsh party has got on with the job of selecting candidates.  Two have already been adopted and a number of other key selections are well under way.  The Scottish party were unable to provide any timetable yesterday.  Only two candidates are currently in place - Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the fast-tracked candidate for East Renfrewshire, Richard Cook.

Some are blaming the lack of direction at Scottish Conservative HQ.  Former MP Peter Duncan recently resigned as Scottish Chairman.

Applications open for Grantham and Stamford

CCHQ has opened applications for Quentin Davies' old seat of Grantham and Stamford.  Applications must be submitted by 28th August.  The projected Conservative majority over Labour is 6,636.

Finalists for Ipswich

There are four finalists for the Ipswich open primary:

• Benedict Gummer
• James Tumbridge
• Chloe Smith
• Samantha George

Ipswich has a projected Labour majority of 5,274.

Shaun Bailey's mission

The Conservative candidate for Hammersmith - Shaun Bailey - is featured in the latest edition of an American Christian weekly, World magazine.  The article gives a good insight into Shaun's worldview and the faith that motivates him.  The text is pasted below.   

"As Shaun Bailey, the 35-year-old grandson of immigrants from Jamaica, walked through westside Ladbroke one afternoon, he regularly called out to young men, "What's happening, bro?" They all responded with a wave, and some crossed Golborne Road to talk with him, darting past sidewalk stalls where sellers hawk clothes, games, shoes, and toilet tissue.

"Street work allows me to meet them in an arena where they feel comfortable," said Bailey, a 6-foot-tall, muscular youth worker. He tried to convince a fat English bloke to enter a training course: "It's not like sitting in college." He spoke with a bearded Moroccan immigrant who wore jeans and a jean jacket, and later explained, "He's a hustler, but he wants to go straight. My job is to challenge them, and if they offer crap, to tell them it's crap."

As Bailey walked past the neighborhood's three-story buildings, which typically sported first-floor shops with flats above, he sometimes singled out individuals sitting at small outdoor cafés. He told a slightly built 17-year-old Moroccan, "I've got a job opening for you. You'll be a proper businessman. Here's my card. All day Wednesday I'll be there. . . . I'm not going to call you, you have to come see me if you're serious."

He later estimated the teen's likelihood of showing up at 50-50. "I know he's been doing some bad stuff, but if he shows up we'll have the conversation. I'll tell him this is his chance to be a big man." If the person responds, Bailey gives him a GPS navigation tool (valued at $600) that will enable him to deliver take-out food. The would-be seller has to rent a cycle and pay insurance.