The Mail on Sunday has prepared an excellent photographic guide to the eighty Tory women most likely to be on the green benches after the next General Election.
The feature includes the scoop that a fighting fund is being put together to oppose All Women Shortlists. ConHome is aware of a plan to form an "Association of Associations" to resist CCHQ and that a £15,000 donation has already been pledged to give the AofA legal advice and a website.
Former Education Secretary Gillian Shepherd joins the chorus of opposition to AWS:
"It is an insult to women for anyone to give the impression that they need special treatment. It doesn’t happen in any other profession. I don’t live in a Harriet Harman world."
Opponents of AWS within CCHQ need a few women selections in order to be able to resist AWS from January. Yesterday's selection of Liz Truss strengthened their hand. Later today Penrith selects.
Tim Montgomerie
