ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Stephen Phillips QC selected for Sleaford and North Hykeham

My sources in Lincolnshire report that Stephen Phillips QC was earlier this evening selected in the second ballot out of a field of six for the Conservative nomination in the seat being vacated by Douglas Hogg.

Stephen was one of the runners-up in the recent Woking selection. He read Law at Oxford and after a short stint in the Welsh Guards and attending Sandhurst, he was called to the Bar in 1993 and appointed a QC earlier this year. He is also Chairman of the Governors of the only sign-bilingual school in Britain.

Douglas Hogg will bequeath a notional majority of 12,687 over Labour.

Jonathan Isaby

Philip Lee adopted for Bracknell to succeed disgraced Andrew Mackay

Many congratulations to Dr Philip Lee. He was one of my twenty top tips. I'm sorry for the other unsuccessful candidates but know that Philip will be an excellent MP.

Tim Montgomerie

David Rutley adopted to succeed Sir Nicholas Winterton in Macclesfield

Fiona Bruce was the second-placed candidate.

David Rutley is a former Director at Asda and former adviser to William Waldegrave. He stood for St Albans in 1997.

11.15am on Sunday: Macclesfield Express report on Mr Rutley's victory includes winsome photograph with Sir NIcholas Winterton.

Monday update: Below is a 3-minute video of David Rutley accepting the nomination and being inerviewed after the meeting, along with Sir Nicholas Winterton:

Three plum seats choose their Tory candidate this weekend

Two seats choose today:

• Bracknell: Iain Dale, Margaret Doyle, Philip Lee, Katy Lindsay, Julia Manning, Ryan Robson,  Rory Stewart
• Macclesfield: Victoria Atkins, Fiona Bruce, Nicholas Gleave, Sheila Lawlor, David Rutley, David Senior. Macclesfield Conservatives will be announcing their candidate on this website shortly after 5pm.

And one tomorrow:

• Sleaford and North Hykeham: Kwasi Kwarteng, Katy Lindsay, Kay Mason, Lucille Nicholson, Stephen Phillips, Bob Stewart.

Veracity of "secret" list of twenty future Tory peers questioned

This morning I have already written about how David Cameron will need to appoint a new raft of Tory peers if he becomes Prime Minister.

And right on cue the new edition of PR Week contains a list of 20 people tipped to be made Tory peers if David Cameron becomes Prime Minister as apparently provided to Mandate Communications, the public affairs agency.

However, the list's veracity has been immediately called into doubt by the Evening Standard's Paul Waugh, who points out that one of those on the list - David Freud - is already a member of the House of Lords, having been ennobled back in June, whilst I note that another - General Sir Richard Dannatt - had his impending peerage announced by David Cameron in Manchester last week.

Furthermore, Kirstie Allsopp's name appears in the story but then not on the list of twenty names at the end of the piece. (Update: Kirstie Allsopp's name has now replaced that of David Freud in the PR Week story)

Nonetheless, some of the names highlighted are credible candidates for ennoblement, not least because they have been proposed as possible appointees in ConHome's Search for 100 Peers feature.

For what they are worth, here are those other eighteen names on the list:

• Sir Tim Berners-Lee
• Sir Howard Bernstein
• Bill Emmott
• Sir Peter Gershon
• Sir Alan Haselhurst
• DeAnne Julius
• Jill Kirby
• Angela Knight
• Harpal Kumar
• Sir John Major
• Sir Simon Milton
• Sir Jonathon Porritt
• Sir Stuart Rose 
• David Ross
• Michael Spencer
• Sir John Tusa
• Ann Widdecombe
• Robin Wight

Jonathan Isaby

There are twenty to thirty openly gay and lesbian Tories in winnable seats, says Iain Dale

Blogger Iain Dale is quoted in a very positive piece in Boyz magazine about the Conservative Party's changing attitude to homosexuality saying that there are twenty to thirty "out" gay Tory candidates in target seats. That's probably about right.

Journalist David Bridle could not find a single Tory activist at the Manchester Party Conference who opposed "David Cameron’s hand of friendship to his gay supporters."

Read a PDF of the full article.

There have always been a very large number of gay and lesbian Tories. It will be an historic moment if twenty or more Tory MPs are openly gay after the next General Election.

Tim Montgomerie

David Wilshire refers himself to Standards Commissioner after the Telegraph exposes expenses payments to his own company

7.45pm: Wilshire to quit at next election. He has just issued this statement:

"The allegations made in today’s Telegraph are deeply hurtful and unjustified. However, my Constituents rightly want reassurance and the truth. This is why I have referred this to the Commissioner. I am confident that he will confirm that I have done nothing wrong. That said, I am very conscious that the allegations and investigation will cause great distress to my family and friends. These allegations also run the risk of harming my local party and our national party’s chances of winning at the next General Election. In the circumstances I have reluctantly concluded that it is sensible for me not to seek re-election next year."

5.45pm update: No news from the earlier meeting, but there is grim news for Mr Wilshire from the PoliticsHome Phi100 panel: only 5% of the cross-party panel believe he will stand as a Conservative candidate come the general election. More details here.

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1.30pm update: Sky News is reporting that Mr Wilshire has been summoned to a meeting with the party's Chief Whip, Patrick McLoughlin, later this afternoon.

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Spelthorne's Conservative MP David Wilshire faces serious questions today after the Daily Telegraph has reported this morning that he used parliamentary expenses to pay more than £100,000 of taxpayers’ money to his own company.

The paper states:

"Mr Wilshire claimed for more than three years for office assistance provided by “Moorlands Research Services”. Parliamentary expenses rules forbid MPs from entering into arrangements which “may give rise to an accusation” of profiting from public funds. But on Wednesday night, Mr Wilshire – the MP for Spelthorne in Surrey – admitted that he and his partner, Ann Palmer, were sole owners of the business."

Mr Wilshire has now referred himself to the parliamentary commissioner for standards, John Lyon, to conduct  a formal inquiry into the matter.

Earlier in the summer, it emerged that a group of voters in the constituency were seeking to oust Mr Wilshire over other expenses claims.

Jonathan Isaby

Two senior Macclesfield Tories quit over candidate selection process

This Saturday sees an open primary in Macclesfield to select a Conservative candidate to succeed Sir Nicholas Winterton, who has represented the seat in Parliament since 1971.

The six finalists are listed here, but in advance of Saturday's meeting, the Macclesfield Express reports today that two leading members of the local association walked out of an executive meeting on Monday in protest at the way the selection has been handled.

Andy Lea, association treasurer and one of the six members of the committee which was charged with drawing up the shortlist at a meeting at CCHQ in London, told the paper that he had resigned, citing "excessive pressure from central office and unfair and irregular practices to exclude local people from the process". He said:

"The deputy chairman also resigned last night as he felt unable to continue given the circumstances, and I don’t blame him. I am hugely disappointed by the way central office has behaved, with little regard for the local membership or the people of Macclesfield. Sir Nicholas has spoken in the past about Cameron’s mafia, and I have now seen it myself first hand. I can understand why ordinary people feel disenfranchised from the political process and don’t trust politicians. Having been part of a process that I know was fundamentally wrong and unfair I feel I have no choice but to speak out."

He suggested that local candidates were put at a disadvantage and that the association should have stood up to what he described as "the bullies in London".

Cllr Darryl Beckford - who had hoped to be in the running for the nomination himself - is the deputy chairman who resigned alongside Mr Lea, saying that he felt "disappointed with the way things have gone".

Whilst I do not know the ins and outs of the specific situation in Macclesfield ConservativeHome has previously cited here our concerns that the selection procedure as now constituted has taken too much power and choice away from members.

Jonathan Isaby

A week in the life of Susan Wade Weeks, PPC for York Central

Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.

This week’s diary is written by Susan Wade Weeks, who was selected in March 2008 as PPC for York Central, a slightly redrawn seat based on the existing City of York constituency. Labour MP Hugh Bayley gained the seat from the Conservatives in 1992 and Susan requires a swing of 13% to overturn the notional Labour majority of 10,344. Since the Conservative conference was taking place last week, Susan has written her diary about a week in mid-September...

Tuesday
I leave my rented cottage in the wilds of West Sussex at 7am on Tuesday morning and hit the snarled-up, caterpillar traffic on the M25 and the M1 aiming for a 12.30pm meeting at York St John University with Vice-Chancellor Professor Diane Willcocks, CBE.

Arriving with 10 minutes to spare, I do a quick change and make-up in the Mini – tinted windows good for this - before meeting for a sandwich lunch and an in-depth tour of the impressive premises. A small, vibrant University with around 3,500 - mainly local - students on a diverse range of courses, entering at many different levels, York St John lies within my potential constituency, just outside the City walls. It is important to me to get to know the place, meet the students, understand how it is run and find out what York St John might expect from an incoming Conservative Government.

I am struck by the Peace Garden and its tree: a direct descendant of the one found still standing among the ruin of Hiroshima.

Back at the Ash Street Conservative office, I spend the afternoon telephone canvassing strong Labour ward Heworth, with mixed results, but no actual insults. Encouraging. Many are still undecided about how they will vote at the general election, even though they voted Labour in Heworth.  I do find some very keen supporters in every street I try, just not all that many of them. 591 in total.  In the evening, I pick up stuff left behind from my flat move in May from ex-landlords Guy and Jacqui Ward, who promise to introduce me to York Chamber of Commerce. Transfer luggage to lodgings in Carl Street down by the caravan park in Clementhorpe and fall asleep reading Boris Johnson…

An updated list of the Conservative MPs already quitting - and those who may yet join them

As MPs returning to Westminster tomorrow open their letters from Sir Thomas Legg with a verdict on their expenses claims of the last five years, there will be renewed speculation as to whether a further tranche of MPs will now opt to stand down at the next general election.

I therefore thought this an opportune moment to take stock of where things stand at the moment in terms of Conservative MPs who will not be seeking re-election.

As of today, the following 17 MPs elected as Conservatives (most of whom are retiring, but several of whom may seek re-election under a different banner) have already had new Conservative PPCs selected in their place:

Peter Atkinson - Hexham - - > Guy Opperman
Tim Boswell - Daventry - - > Chris Heaton-Harris
Angela Browning - Tiverton and Honiton - - > Neil Parish
Sir John Butterfill - Bournemouth West - - > Conor Burns
Derek Conway - Old Bexley and Sidcup - - > James Brokenshire MP
David Curry - Skipton and Ripon - - > Julian Smith
Quentin Davies  - Grantham and Stamford - - > Nicholas Boles
Michael Jack - Fylde - - > Mark Menzies
Michael Howard - Folkestone and Hythe - - > Damian Collins
Humfrey Malins - Woking - - > Jonathan Lord
Michael Mates - Hampshire East - - > Damian Hinds
Malcolm Moss - Cambridgeshire North East - - > Steve Barclay
Andrew Pelling - Croydon Central - - > Gavin Barwell
Sir Michael Spicer - Worcestershire West - - > Harriett Baldwin
Bob Spink - Castle Point - - > Rebecca Harris
Anthony Steen - Totnes - - > Sarah Wollaston
Ann Widdecombe - Maidstone and the Weald - - > Helen Grant

And the following 14 MPs have announced they will stand down at the election, but in seats which are yet to select a new candidate:

Michael Ancram - Devizes - nominations close on October 12th
Christopher Fraser - Norfolk South West - selecting on October 24th
Paul Goodman - Wycombe - nominations to re-open after process suspended
Douglas Hogg - Sleaford and North Hykeham - selecting on October 18th
John Horam - Orpington (not yet officially confirmed) - nominations yet to open
Julie Kirkbride - Bromsgrove - nominations yet to open
Jacqui Lait - Beckenham - nominations yet to open
Sir Michael Lord - Suffolk Central and Ipswich North - nominations close on October 12th
Andrew Mackay - Bracknell - selecting on October 17th
David Maclean - Penrith and the Border - selecting on October 25th
Ian Taylor - Esher and Walton - selecting on November 21st
Sir Peter Viggers - Gosport - nominations close on October 12th
Ann Winterton - Congleton - nominations close on October 12th
Sir Nicholas Winterton - Macclesfield - selected in October 17th

Additionally, there is Ryedale MP John Greenway who has been left seatless, having lost out in the race with Anne McIntosh for the newly drawn Thirsk and Malton constituency; and John Bercow who will contest Buckingham as "Speaker seeking re-election", but not opposed by the Conservatives. Then, aside from the two Conservative MPs who held previously Tory seats at by-elections, there are the two MPs who gained seats at by-elections, Edward Timpson and Chloe Smith.

This all means that currently we can only expect 167 existing Conservative MPs to be seeking re-election, with more of those expected to call it a day and make way for someone else before the general election.

So who else might yet step down?

Peter Atkinson - Hexham - - > Guy Opperman
Tim Boswell - Daventry - - > Chris Heaton-Harris
Angela Browning - Tiverton and Honiton - - > Neil Parish
Sir John Butterfill - Bournemouth West - - > Conor Burns
Derek Conway - Old Bexley and Sidcup - - > James Brokenshire MP
David Curry - Skipton and Ripon - - > Julian Smith
Quentin Davies  - Grantham and Stamford - - > Nicholas Boles
Michael Jack - Fylde - - > Mark Menzies
Michael Howard - Folkestone and Hythe - - > Damian Collins
Humfrey Malins - Woking - - > Jonathan Lord
Michael Mates - Hampshire East - - > Damian Hinds
Malcolm Moss - Cambridgeshire North East - - > Steve Barclay
Andrew Pelling - Croydon Central - - > Gavin Barwell
Sir Michael Spicer - Worcestershire West - - > Harriett Baldwin
Bob Spink - Castle Point - - > Rebecca Harris
Anthony Steen - Totnes - - > Sarah Wollaston
Ann Widdecombe - Maidstone and the Weald - - > Helen Grant

And the following 14 MPs have announced they will stand down at the election, but in seats which are yet to select a new candidate:

Michael Ancram - Devizes - nominations close on October 12th
Christopher Fraser - Norfolk South West - selecting on October 24th
Paul Goodman - Wycombe - nominations to re-open after process suspended
Douglas Hogg - Sleaford and North Hykeham - selecting on October 18th
John Horam - Orpington (not yet officially confirmed) - nominations yet to open
Julie Kirkbride - Bromsgrove - nominations yet to open
Jacqui Lait - Beckenham - nominations yet to open
Sir Michael Lord - Suffolk Central and Ipswich North - nominations close on October 12th
Andrew Mackay - Bracknell - selecting on October 17th
David Maclean - Penrith and the Border - selecting on October 25th
Ian Taylor - Esher and Walton - selecting on November 21st
Sir Peter Viggers - Gosport - nominations close on October 12th
Ann Winterton - Congleton - nominations close on October 12th
Sir Nicholas Winterton - Macclesfield - selected in October 17th

Additionally, there is Ryedale MP John Greenway who has been left seatless, having lost out in the race with Anne McIntosh for the newly drawn Thirsk and Malton constituency; and John Bercow who will contest Buckingham as "Speaker seeking re-election", but not opposed by the Conservatives. Then, aside from the two Conservative MPs who held previously Tory seats at by-elections, there are the two MPs who gained seats at by-elections, Edward Timpson and Chloe Smith.

This all means that currently we can only expect 167 existing Conservative MPs to be seeking re-election, with more of those expected to call it a day and make way for someone else before the general election.

So who else might yet step down?

Six names battling it out for South West Norfolk

Today the Executive Committee of South West Norfolk Conservative Association have been hearing from the  candidates shortlisted to replace Christopher Fraser as Conservative candidate for the seat at the next general election.

They are named in today's Eastern Daily Press (not online) as:

• Therese Coffey
• Christine Emmett
• David Rutley
• Elizabeth Truss
• James Tumbridge
• Clare Whelan

The candidate will be selected at a special general meeting of the association on October 24th and the victor will inherit a notional majority of 6,817 over Labour. It is not yet known whether all the above names will go through to the SGM...

Jonathan Isaby

UNCONFIRMED: John Horam MP to step down at the general election

It is yet to be confirmed, but authoritative sources tell me thatIt has now been confirmed that John Horam will stand down as MP for Orpington at the general election.

He is one of those rare political animals who has sat for three different parties in the Commons, as Labour MP for Gateshead West from 1970 to 1981; as SDP MP for that seat between 1981 and 1983; and as Conservative MP for Orpington since 1992.

He served as a junior minister in the governments of both James Callaghan and John Major.

In Orpington, he will bequeath a notional Conservative to his successor of 5,221 over the Liberal Democrats, having seen off the threat they had posed when his margin of victory in 2001 was a mere 269 votes. In fact, the Liberal Democrat candidate at the last four general elections has now made way for a new candidate.

The constituency falls within the London Borough of Bromley in the south east corner of Greater London, in what is spiritually still viewed by many locals as Kent.

Monday update: Mr Horam gave the following statement to News Shopper:

“It has been a great honour and pleasure representing Orpington, but I will have done the job for 18 years by the next election. It is time for someone else to take over... I will miss meeting people from all walks of life, and I will miss the friends that you make in the job. It is an exciting period for the Conservatives but sometimes you have to think about your party and not yourself. It is a good time for someone new to represent the party in Orpington. It will seem strange watching the next general election and not actually taking part.”

Jonathan Isaby

Six names in the frame for Penrith and the Border

Six candidates have been shortlisted out of 130 applicants in the race to replace David Maclean as Conservative candidate for Penrith and the Border at the next general election.

An open primary is scheduled for October 25th and those in the running are:

• Fiona Bruce
• Christine Emmett
• Chris Galley (not the Christopher Galley involved in the Damian Green Home Office leak affair)
• Robert Light
• Lucille Nicholson
• Rory Stewart

More on the Cumberland News website.

Jonathan Isaby

Yet another Labour MP in a top Tory target calls it a day as Claire Curtis-Thomas announces her retirement at the general election

Over the last 24 hours, Claire Curtis-Thomas, the Labour MP for Crosby since 1997, has announced her intention to quit at the general election.

After boundary changes her seat is renamed Sefton Central and is 117 on the Tory target list (based on the Rallings and Thrasher figures) - and as we have been reminded during the conference, the Conservatives need to gain 117 seats to win an overall majority in the Commons.

A Conservative candidate has been in place since August 2006 in the form of former radio and TV presenter  Debi Jones (pictured), who fought Crosby in 2005 and has been a local councillor since 2006.

Here at the conference in Manchester, Debi gave me her reaction to the news:

"It does not come as a great surprise that Ms Curtis-Thomas is standing down. I wish her well in her future endeavours. She has done her best for this constituency over the past 12 years, but it is now time for change. Labour will choose a new candidate, but they will still have to serve up Gordon Brown's failing policies that have brought this country to its kness and saddled every one of us with massive debt. The fact she is standing down speaks volumes."

Last week, Labour MP Barbara Follett announced her intention to stand down at the general election.

Jonathan Isaby

Glasgow North East by-election will take place on November 12th

It has been confirmed today that when the Commons returns next week, Labour will move the writ for the Glasgow North East by-election for a contest to be held on November 12th.

It is, of course, the seat that was vacated back in June by the outgoing Speaker, Michael Martin - and I have blogged previously my outrage at the fact that the people of Glasgow North East have been left without an MP for half a year.

The Conservatives selected Ruth Davidson (pictured) to contest the seat in August and she is blogging here.

Jonathan Isaby

Bob Greig: Why I - a single Dad who has never voted Tory - now want to become a Conservative MP

We recently featured a piece by Hamish Fulton, who explained why he answered David Cameron's call for new candidates to come forward. Here Bob Greig, a single father who has always voted Labour, explains why he responded to David Cameron's call and is seeking selection for a constituency after being accepted onto the approved candidates' list.

When preparing my application form to become a Conservative Parliamentary Candidate earlier this year I spent a lot of time hesitating!

Urging me on was David Cameron’s request for new people to put themselves forward. That request hit me with force. It was simple really. I knew I could offer the Party some valuable insights on welfare and benefit reform and do the day to day work of an MP. I also knew I had the heart and the intellect to really fulfill the role.

But things putting me off were the very simple facts that to date I had never voted Conservative, I was not a member of the Party, and my CV was very different to the PPCs I was reading about on the Conservative web site. In place of “short stint with the Guards before pursuing a successful career in the City”, it read “single parent, redundancy, and a short stint on incapacity benefit”. Not exactly traditional Tory stuff!

My application forms were on hold for now.

I’ve been a single parent now for six years. In that period I have had to change jobs, I have been made redundant, moved house three times, spent thousands of hours nurturing my youngest girl who for the first couple of years seemed a bit lost, and many more dealing with my eldest child who has acute emotional difficulties. I have spent all my limited savings trying to keep the show on the road, and in the middle of this I developed a severe anxiety/panic disorder which kept me away from full-time work for the best part of 18 months. With that embarrassing condition (which too few sufferers can still talk about) I lost self confidence, stopped socialising, and basically stopped living.

This was made harder because I come from what used to be called “solid working class stock”. From being the first family member to get to University to being the first to receive government welfare is a hard, life-changing, journey to make.

And life-changing it was.  For out of these experiences I set about trying to improve the lot of others who find themselves in similar positions.

Nick Holder selected for Newcastle upon Tyne Central

After recent selections in the other two Newcastle upon Tyne seats, Newcastle Central Conservatives have now chosen 50-year-old Nick Holder to stand as their candidate at the general election.

He said on his selection:

“I am very pleased that the members of the Newcastle Conservative Party have chosen me as their General Election candidate. The people of Newcastle have been let down by the Labour Party nationally and at a local level by the Liberal Democrats, who are now starting to fight amongst themselves. The only party that is willing and able to deliver change for our country is the Conservative Party.”

Newcastle Central is held by Jim Cousins for Labour, but he is standing down at the general election. His successor as Labour candidate will have a notional majority of around 8,000 over the Liberal Democrats, with the Conservatives starting in third place.

Jonathan Isaby

Diary of a PPC: In the week that the Labour Party converged on Brighton for its conference, Simon Kirby and his team deliver 32,000 surveys across Brighton Kemptown (whilst Gordon Brown fails to make any impact whatsoever)

Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.

This week’s diary is written by Simon Kirby, who was selected in November 2006 as PPC for Brighton Kemptown, a seat that the Conservatives haven’t won since 1992.  Simon has a notional Labour majority of less than 2,000 to overturn after some minor boundary changes. Simon writes about his week as the Labour Party converged on Brighton for their last annual conference before the General Election.

Sunday 27th September
As the Labour Party arrive in Brighton today, the KIRBY for KEMPTOWN team are limbering up for a massive survey delivery across the whole constituency.  We have had teams of volunteers folding and stuffing envelopes since Thursday and we now intend to deliver over thirty thousand surveys during the Labour Party conference.

I am starting the day as usual - out at 7am in East Brighton Park walking the dogs and thinking about my very busy week ahead.  Several other dog walkers recognise me from a dog show that I was asked to help judge in last week.  One of the great things about standing for Parliament is that it gives you an opportunity to meet lots of different people from different walks of life - there’s never a dull moment!

I spend the whole day delivering with my small but enthusiastic team of helpers.  Sunday is a great day to talk to people who are washing their cars, doing their gardens or just enjoying the autumn sunshine.  Brighton Kemptown is nearly all hills and many of the houses have steep steps – I arrive home exhausted at 7pm.

I watch the film, This Is Endland on Film4 with my two oldest two children – it’s a film about skinheads in 1983 and is a lesson to all of us about tolerance.

Jeff Milburn selected to fight Jarrow

One selection I missed which took place a couple of weeks ago was that of Jeff Milburn to fight Jarrow for the Conservatives at the general election.

He is a deputy chairman of Jarrow Conservative Association and a lifelong resident of Cleadon in the constituency. He is one of the three Conservative councillors for Cleadon and East Boldon ward on South Tyneside council (the only Tory ward in South Tyneside).

He said on his selection:

“It is an honour to have been selected to fight the Jarrow constituency at the next general election. I will be taking the fight to Stephen Hepburn and offering the people of Jarrow a real alternative to a tired and desperate Labour party that has been taking the people of the North for granted for too long. I am looking forward to fighting a positive campaign based upon common sense and traditional north east family values."

Labour MP Stephen Hepburn has a notional majority of 12,749 over the Liberal Democrats to defend. The Conservatives are in third place with 13% of the vote.

Jonathan Isaby

The six finalists for Sleaford and North Hykeham

"Sleaford and North Hykeham Conservatives have chosen six candidates to contest an open primary meeting on Sunday, October 18, to select a Conservative Candidate to succeed The Rt Hon Douglas Hogg QC MP, as the Conservative Candidate at the next General Election. Mr Hogg recently announced his decision to retire.
 
Three men and three women will contest the Open Primary interviews at which any elector in the Sleaford and North Hykeham Constituency may attend and vote.
 
The six candidates are:

1. Kwasi Kwarteng,  an investment analyst and author from London. Mr Kwarteng was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and fought Brent East for the Conservatives at the 2005 General Election.
2. Katy Lindsay, a business consultant from London who fought Hull East for the Conservatives in the 2005 at the General Election
3. Kay Mason, a businesswoman and farmer from Norfolk who fought Norwich North at the 2005 General Election.
4. Lucille Nicholson, a farmer, and businesswoman from the North East who fought Easington for the Conservatives at the 2005 General Election.
5. Stephen Phillips QC, a barrister and former army officer from London whose wife comes from Lincolnshire. He is an adviser to Shadow Education Spokesman, Michael Gove.
6. Colonel Bob Stewart, DSO, retired Colonel of the Cheshire Regiment who is now a consultant, broadcaster and author.

 Sleaford and North Hykeham Conservatives’ Chairman, Mr George Clark said: “We were determined to give constituents a wide choice of experience and ability and to choose able and articulate candidates who will speak up for Constituents in the way that Douglas Hogg has done for the last 30 years.”

Another minister opts to quit a marginal seat rather than face the electorate's verdict as Barbara Follett announces her intention to retire as Labour MP for Stevenage

Barbara Follett, a junior minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government has told her local paper today that she will step down as Labour MP for Stevenage at the general election. She does not appear overly confident of the party holding the seat, based on what she told the Stevenage Comet:

''Stevenage is still a winnable seat and if, as seems likely, an election is held on May 6 2010 then Parliament will be dissolved at the end of March. This will not give my successor much time to make an impression"

Her election in 1997 provided one of the memorable moments of election night, when she and her author husband Ken Follett's credentials as chamapagne socialists were called into question when they were, er, unable to open a bottle of champagne.

Stephen McPartland (pictured), the Conservative candidate for Stevenage, requires a swing of 4% to overturn the notional Labour majority of 3,288. He has relesaed the following statement in reaction to the news:

“I am pleased Barbara recognises she has lost the support of many local people and I think stepping down was the only real option left for her. The Labour Party have lost touch with local people and there is a real desire for change. I hope to be that change, by working hard to create a more transparent form of politics that focuses on improving the quality of life of local people and tackles the issues that affect them on a daily basis. I am delighted with the support I am receiving on the doorstep and just wish the government would call an election and let the people decide”.

Jonathan Isaby

Matt Palmer and Mohammed Riaz selected for Bradford South and Bradford East

Zahid Iqbal has been in place as candidate for what is on paper the most winnable of the three Bradford seats, Bradford West, since March 2007.

Last night, Conservative candidates were selected for the two other Bradford constituencies:

Matt Palmer was chosen to fight Bradford South.

He is councillor for Wharfedale ward on Bradford Council as well as being a Governor of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and serving on the Executive of the Foundation Trust Governors Association, a national body helping Governors improve the way the NHS is run. He also runs a small internet business.

Labour hold Bradford South with a notional majority of 8,444 over the Conservaitves and Matt would require a swing of 12% to gain the seat.

Mohammed Riaz was selected to fight a redrawn seat called Braford East, which is based on the existing Bradford North constituency.

A former Bradford Councillor, he fought Bradford North in 1992 and then Bradford West in 1997 and 2001, and was third on the party's list for Yorkshrie and the Humber at the 2004 European election. He is the managing director of a healthcare company and owns a group of restaurant and shops, and also works with several charities to raise funds for schools, an eye hospital, orphanage and Umeed Welfare Trust Hospital.

Bradford East has a notional Labour majority of 5,227 over the Liberal Demorats, with the Conservatives in third place on 17.5% of the vote.

Jonathan Isaby

Jonathan Lord selected for Woking

Woking Conservatives last night held an Open Primary to select their new parliamentary candidate and the winner was Jonathan Lord.

A former director of Saatchi and Saatchi, Jonathan has a background in media, communications and marketing and is currently a Marketing Consultant helping small and medium size enterprises succeed in the current difficult economic climate. He is Chairman of Guildford Conservative Association and was elected to Surrey County Council in June. A former deputy leader of Westminster Council, he contested Oldham West and Royton in 1997 and is married with two children.

Humfrey Malins, who is retiring, bequeaths him a Conservative majority of 6,612.

For details of the unsuccessful candidates, see my previous thread on the selection.

Jonathan Isaby

Graeme Brown selected for Dudley North

Last night Dudley North Conservatives selected Graeme Brown as their parliamentary candidate at a special general meeting.

Graeme fought Makerfield Ashton-under-Lyne at the 2005 election and works for one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms. He has also written a number of Platform articles for ConHome.

He replaces the previously-selected candidate who stood down in March.

Graeme was selected from a field of four, that included Chris Holmes, Sarah Macken and Glennis Simms, with twelve candidates having been interviewed on Saturday.

He said on his selection:

"I am deeply honoured to be given the chance to fight Dudley North at the next General Election. I  know the area well, have campaigned extensively here and cannot wait to get started with the task of persuading the voters of Dudley North that The Sun is indeed right, and that we need a Conservative government to bring about the changes our country so desperately needs".

The seat is currently held by one of Gordon Brown's inner circle, Ian Austin, who will defend a notional majority of 4,108. Graeme needs a swing of 5.6% to gain the seat - and ensure that there will still be one Mr G Brown sitting on the government benches in the House of Commons...

Jonathan Isaby