By way of a little stock check we have had thirteen candidates selected to succeed MPs that have announced retirements in recent months:
- Fiona Bruce for Congleton, lawyer
- Dr Daniel Poulter for Suffolk Central and Ipswich North, medical doctor
- Dominic Raab for Esher & Walton, political chief of staff and former Foreign Officer lawyer
- Claire Perry for Devizes, political adviser and former banker
- Steve Baker for Wycombe, former RAF engineer
- Rory Stewart for Penrith and the Border, former Army officer and diplomat
- Liz Truss for SW Norfolk, think tank leader
- Stephen Phillips for Sleaford and North Hykeham, barrister
- Philip Lee for Bracknell, medical doctor
- David Rutley for Macclesfield, businessman
- Jonathan Lord for Woking, marketing consultant
- Julian Smith for Skipton and Ripon, recruitment entrepreneur
- Sarah Wollaston for Totnes, medical doctor.
We are back at 30% for the proportion of women selected.
There are six plum seats yet to select: Beckenham, Bromsgrove, Gosport, Orpington, Spelthorne and Suffolk West.
Half-a-dozen more retirements are expected. Perhaps more.
Tim Montgomerie