It has taken some time but R&S have readopted Mark Reckless today. Mark fought Bob Marshall-Andrews unsuccessfully at the last two elections but boundary changes mean that the seat now has a projected Conservative majority of 1,501.
10pm: We understand that the other finalists were Jacques Arnold, Dorothy Luckhurst and Katy Bourne. Mr Reckless won on the first round.
7am, 28 July: Dan Hannan MEP blogs a tribute to Mark Reckless
