At an open primary meeting today, Nick Hillman was selected from a field of six to stand as Conservative candidate for Cambridge at the general election.
Nick is Chief of Staff to David Willetts, specialising in university policy. Previously he worked for pension companies and, before that, spent five years as a History teacher. He has also authored a number of pamphlets for Policy Exchange, Politeia, the CPS and the Bow Group on a variety of issues including pensions, employment, tax credits and welfare reform.
His pitch to Cambridge including the following:
"Cambridge does not always receive its fair share of national resources. Only last week, it was announced local schools won’t get funding to cover the recent increase in births. So we need a local MP who will fight to put Cambridge’s interests at the heart of the next Government. I have the experience to do that..
"I have worked in local schools, including Hills Road Sixth Form College, so I know the needs of young people and public sector staff. I have lived on King Street, and I cycle, drive and use public transport, so I understand local transport pressures. I was once the victim of an unprovoked assault in the city, so I will tackle anti-social behaviour and work for safer streets.
"It is because Cambridge is our favourite place that my wife and I held our wedding reception here earlier this year, and we will move here later this month. I pledge to fight a clean campaign on policies, not personalities."
Read more about him on his website.
The sitting Lib Dem MP, David Howarth, is stepping down and will bequeath a notional majority of 5,834 over Labour to his successor as Lib Dem candidate, with the Conservatives starting in third place with 17.3% of the vote. The seat was Tory-held for all but one year between 1950 and 1992, when it was gained by Labour, who in turn lost it to the Lib Dems in 2005. Nick replaces the previously selected Conservative candidate, Richard Normington, who stood down in October.
Jonathan Isaby