ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Shireen Ritchie: Candidates will be in place for an autumn election

18DoughtyStreet's Iain Dale interviews Shireen Ritchie, Chairman of the Conservative Party's Candidates Committee.  Mrs Ritchie says that the party will have all candidates in place for an autumn election - should it take place - and she discusses the difficulties that the party is still experiencing in recruiting more women to the candidate's list.  The video extract below is 150 seconds long and the full interview can be watched here.

 

Follow the lead of the Kent Conservatives - organise EU Treaty rallies

Kent Conservatives are holding rallies in various towns across the county on September 22nd, asking Gordon Brown for the promised referendum.  Former regional press officer Janice Small and South East MEP Dan Hannan have organised the events.  Janice explains here why she thinks all candidates, MPs, MEPs and activists around the UK should do the same.

At last we have returned to the nasty EU question that we haven’t been able to discuss for two years but now David Cameron is taking the lead on Europe, in common with public opinion and as our most Eurosceptic leader.  Let’s keep up the pressure on Labour and the issue alive in the media by running a nationwide campaign to keep Gordon Brown’s promise for a referendum on the Treaty and to kick UKIP into the long grass.

We have organised street stalls and rallies where we will give speeches and ask people to sign a petition and direct them to the Daily Telegraph’s online petition.

People are interested in this issue but it needs to be made easy for them to get involved.  On his blog, Dan Hannan recently complained that people are not signing the Telegraph’s EU Treaty referendum petition. But why is he surprised?

Jonathan Evans MEP selected for Cardiff North

Jonathan Evans, formerly MP for Brecon & Radnor and later a leader of the Conservative MEPs, beat Cllr Kay Swinburne in an open primary selection last night.

Cardiff North is held by Rhodri Morgan's wife by a slender Labour majority of just over 1000 and competent Conservative AM Jonathan Morgan had a big win in the local Assembly elections, so there's a good chance that Mr Evans will return to the green benches.

Mr Evans is a committed Christian and an enthusiastic supporter for a more compassionate conservatism.

Two other MEPs have also been adopted for Westminster seats: Neil Parish for Tiverton and Honiton and  Chris Heaton-Harris for Daventry.

Plum seat North East Cambs is open for business

Malcolm Moss has announced he will be standing down from his seat at the next election:

"I have concluded that with the 'old age pension' looming next year, perhaps this really is the right time to decide to make this Parliament my last. I had to decide that if there was an election in October, would I want to serve another five years. No I wouldn't."

The local association, who have known about it for a month, will decide on the selection process in two weeks. His majority has been reduced by boundary changes from approximately 9000 to a measly 7500, however, so I hardly think any candidates will bother with it...

Deputy Editor

Matthew Williams selected for Newport West

Matthew was selected over the weekend. He's the political adviser to David Tredinnick MP and Manager of the Parliamentary Group for Integrated Healthcare.

One of the more winnable seats for us in Wales, Labour have a majority of 5458.

Deputy Editor

Philip Briscoe adopted for GLA seat of City and East

Tower Hamlets councillor Philip Briscoe (whose blog is here) was selected last night for the GLA seat of City and East.  Philip needs a 4.9% swing to unseat Labour.  His wife Shirley was adopted for the GLA seat of Lambeth and Southwark in April.