ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

John Glen adopted for Salisbury

Winning on the second ballot was a clear testimony to the quality of John Glen's campaign and performance on the day.

It was a superbly organised event with nearly 500 present. Enormous credit must go to Salisbury Conservative Association Chairman Penny Brown and her team.

All five candidates did well but Victoria Atkins and Zehra Zaidi put in particularly strong performances in my view. I hope they find seats very soon.

It was striking how conservative all of the candidates were. They all, for example, made very Eurosceptic pledges, all backed grammar schools, all committed to much stricter control of immigration. 

John complemented this traditional message with commitments to raise the profile of overseas aid among younger voters and also to build a stronger society as the best defence against crime. He said that reductions in benefit dependency must be at the heart of any budget cuts and that protecting the defence budget would be his first priority.

I'm looking forward to him becoming my MP if we can face down the LibDem threat in the coming weeks.

Tim Montgomerie

Local candidate Ian Axton's last minute withdrawal from Salisbury selection

From Ian Axton's website.

I'll be on BBC1 (West) at about 12.30pm discussing the selection. The result is expected at about 5.30pm.

Tim Montgomerie

Are shortlists too long?

Salisbury selects today from a shortlist of six excellent candidates: Victoria Atkins, Ian Axton, Fleur Butler, John Glen, Jeremy Quin and Zehra Zaidi.

Party members and other registered members of the constituency will be gathering at the Salisbury Playhouse for six interviews that will begin at 2pm. Each interview - to be conducted by Major General Patrick Cordingley - will last thirty minutes. The first round of voting will start at about 5.15pm. A result may not be announced until after 6pm if a number of rounds of voting are necessary.

Talking to friends and family over the last few weeks it has been obvious that the major barrier to people coming is the three or four hour length of the process. Some selection meetings have taken five or six hours. Churchgoers are anxious about missing evening services. Political enthusiasts such as myself are resigned to missing things like the Man Utd V Arsenal game but do we have to make it so difficult for people to attend? Why six candidates and not four? Four seems an adequate enough choice to me. That's my thought for the day and something else for CCHQ to consider when they review the selections during this Parliament.

Tim Montgomerie

Two more Labour MPs join the Chicken Run

Further to Jonathan's blog of last week we've seen two more Labour MPs duck the fight at the next General Election:

• Don Touhig, Islywn
• John McFall quit yesterday.

Tim Montgomerie

Matt Hancock, George Osborne's Chief of Staff, selected for Suffolk West

Matt beat Natalie Elphicke in the final round by 88 votes to 81.

He is the second member of George Osborne's team to be selected. Claire Perry was recently selected for Devizes.

When I included Matt in my list of twenty candidates that deserve to be selected I wrote:

"George Osborne will have mixed feelings about his Chief of Staff's hunt for a seat but any Conservative Association that adopts Matt will have chosen a person sure to rise quickly through the ministerial ranks.  Born and brought up in the North West he worked for the family business in Cheshire before joining the Bank of England."

My warm congratulations to him and commiserations to Natalie Elphicke for her strong finish. Sam Gyimah was third.

Rupert Harrison, George Osborne's Chief Economic Adviser (pictured, right), is expected to replace Hancock as the Shadow Chancellor's Chief of Staff.

Tim Montgomerie

Gavin Williamson selected for South Staffordshire

Gavin Williamson was selected tonight to inherit the Conservative nomination in South Staffordshire, where Sir Patrick Cormack is standing down at the general election.

It went to five ballots, with Gavin beating Robert Light in the final and decisive vote.

Gavin, 33, who originally hails from Scarborough and is now based in Derbyshire, was the penultimate national chairman of Conservative Students before it was abolished in 1998 and the separate youth wings of the party were united as Conservative Future. He contested Blackpool North and Fleetwood in 2005.

Gavin is co-owner of a pottery in Staffordshire and Managing Director of a architectural and design company.
 
He issued this brief statement:

"It is a real privilege to be adopted for this fantastic constituency. I am looking forward to working with the local community, the association and Sir Patrick to deliver a Conservative government."

Sir Patrick is bequeathing him a notional majority of 8,346 over Labour in South Staffordshire.

Jonathan Isaby

Jacqui Smith admits that Tory hopeful Karen Lumley will probably beat her in Redditch

Unlike many of her colleagues with very small majorities, Labour MP and ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is intending defending her constituency at the election.

Redditch is a very marginal constituency which Conservative candidate Karen Lumley (pictured) will be fighting for the third election in a row. She needs a swing of 2.6% to gain the seat from Jacqui Smith.

And today Ms Smith admits that Karen will probably be successful in her beatto gia the seat.

According to PoliticsHome, she tells Andrew Neil in this weekend's edition of the BBC Straight Talk programme:

“As the polls stand at the moment, it’s more likely that I’ll lose my seat than I won’t lose it, but they [the people of Redditch] elected me, they’re the people to whom I owe a responsibility.”

Karen wrote about her campaign to unseat Jacqui Smith in this Diary of a PPC last May.

Jonathan Isaby

I'm backing John Glen for Salisbury

I've never endorsed a candidate in a selection battle until today but I hope readers will forgive me making an exception in the case of my home seat of Salisbury.

In backing John Glen. I'm not making any comment on the qualities of the other candidates. I've had the pleasure of meeting Victoria Atkins and Zehra Zaida in the last week and both were very impressive. The Salisbury Conservatives have shortlisted six excellent candidates and all of them would make a good MP for this jewel of England. Equally, all will have to work very hard to fill Robert Key's big shoes.

Perhaps I should wait until the Sunday selection meeting and wait until I've heard all six candidates answer thirty minutes of questions. Perhaps, but I cannot believe that I will learn more about any of the candidates in such a short time than I already know about John after more than fifteen years of close friendship.

We can over-emphasise the importance of local candidates but in John's favour are his Wiltshire roots. His dad has worked in horticulture in the county for all his life. John was brought up in Wiltshire and he has many connections with Salisbury. We need a champion for a county that has been badly neglected by Labour since 1997. It's a sad pattern that Labour have channelled money away from areas that made the mistake of voting Conservative.

I first met John when he was research assistant to Conservative MP Gary Streeter in the early 1990s. He hasn't joined the Conservative cause as a career move but worked for the party throughout our lean years. He was an adviser to William Hague when party leader. He was head of the Conservative Research Department under Michael Howard. John would be on the inside track of the Conservative government we all hope for and that would be good for Salisbury.

For want of a better expression, he's what I think of as a full spectrum Conservative. On the one hand he's a Eurosceptic; he's a believer in low taxation; he supports a tough approach to crime and strictly controlled immigration. But there's also a commitment to the greener, gentler conservatism of David Cameron. John was helping me with the social justice project ten years ago when we worked together in the Conservative Christian Fellowship. In his campaign video he makes it clear that, in fixing Labour's deficit, we mustn't balance budgets on the backs of the poor. He's a practical environmentalist; strongly committed to recycling, better use of energy and protecting the countryside.

That Gordon Brown and Tony Blair sent our armed forces to two wars on a peacetime budget must be in the top three of Labour's great failures. Over dinner last Friday in the excellent new curry house on Minster Street (it was the Golden Curry restaurant), John made it clear that his number one job will be to stand up for the military.

Salisbury couldn't do better than choosing John Glen as its Conservative candidate. 

Tim Montgomerie

Final six for Suffolk Coastal

This morning I can reveal the six finalists for the nomination to succeed John Gummer as Conservative candidate in Suffolk Coastal.

They were chosen by the association officers (not CCHQ), and will battle it out at a special general meeting of the association on Saturday February 6th.

They are:

• Tim Clark - Headmaster of a Lincolnshire grammar school, who wrote this article on education on ConservativeHome last November. Contested Sheffield Brightside in 2005.
• Hugo de Burgh - Director of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster, he lives in the constituency. More on Wikipedia.
• Therese Coffey - Candidate at the 2009 European election in the South East and in Wrexham at the 2005 general election. Trained chartered management accountant, now working in the BBC Property Department.
• Kay Mason - Businesswoman and farmer from Norfolk. Stood in Norwich North at the 2001 general election.
• Sophie Stanbrook - Ipswich-based lawyer who stood for Suffolk County Council last year and Ipswich Council in 2007. Granddaughter of former MP Ivor Stanbrook.
• Nadhim Zahawi - Served on Wandsworth Council for twelve years, he co-founded the polling company YouGov and remains its CEO. Contested Erith and Thamesmead in 1997.

The successful candidate will inherit a notional majority of 9,674 over Labour.

Jonathan Isaby

Does Operation Black Vote have a problem updating its website?

OBV is very quick to mark the selection of a black Labour candidate in a difficult-to-win seat but nearly one week after Kwasi Kwarteng was adopted as the candidate for a safe Tory seat there is no mention on Operation Red Black Vote's site.

Perhaps OBV has been too busy welcoming the far left Al Sharpton to London or reporting (at length) the wisdom of Lee Jasper?

I wonder how much taxpayer money goes to OBV?

Tim Montgomerie

BBC reports on the Liberal Democrats' number one Tory target; Eastbourne's Nigel Waterson

Nigel Waterson holds a projected majority of just 755.

The story underlines the fact that we cannot necessarily rely on Labour unpopularity to win a working majority. We have to beat Liberal Democrats too. ConHome's Yellow to Blue fundraising campaign launches on Monday.

Tim Montgomerie

Search for 100 Peers: Gyles Brandreth

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 59: Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale writes:

"Every parliamentary chamber needs colour, and who better to provide it in the House of Lords than Gyles Brandreth?

"Gyles was Conservative MP for Chester from 1992 to 1997. Latterly he served as a government whip. He details his experience of political and parliamentary life in his diaries, BREAKING THE CODE, which I still regard as the best political book of the last decade. Some of his colleagues weren’t happy for breaking the whips’ code, and refuse to speak to him to this day, but the rest of us are grateful to him for shining an entertaining, but respectful, light on the inner workings of the ‘usual channels’.

"Since he lost his seat, Gyles has remained totally loyal to the party and remains one of the most sought after speakers. He is an adept fundraiser and has remained a leading light in the world of TV and literary entertainment. He would bring a huge knowledge of the arts and entertainment world to the chamber of the House of Lords and it is easy to imagine him becoming a minister at the DCMS. He has proved himself at every turn, whether in the world of books, TV, business or politics. Parliament needs character, and they don’t come much larger than Gyles Brandreth.

"And he would look superb in ermine!"

> Previous nomination: Shami Chakrabarti

Search for 100 Peers: Shami Chakrabarti

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 58: Shami Chakrabarti

Not all of the nominations in this series are for people who would necessarily be expected to take the Conservative whip, but rather for potential Cross Benchers who would be supportive of significant aspects of the Conservative agenda. I think it's fair to say that today's nomination falls into that category.

Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch writes:

"Shami Chakrabarti has been at the forefront of public life since 2001.  She is the Director of Liberty (formerly the National Council on Civil Liberties).  She will be well known to readers of this site, as a regular on various news broadcasts and a commentator on some of the most vital questions faced by our country.

"Detention without trial, random stop and search, the inclusion of the innocent on the DNA database, the misuse and abuse of covert surveillance powers by local councils and other authorities; Chakrabarti has led the chorus of opposition to the current Government’s illiberal approach.  Indeed, liberty is the issue of our time – and it needs more strong advocates in the Upper House.

"Her successful collaboration with David Davis shows that she is more than capable of working with liberty-minded Conservatives; but, such is the importance of this area (which in reality is not a party political issue) that if Chakrabarti wished to sit as a cross-bencher, that should not stand as an obstacle to her appointment by a Conservative Government.

"A gifted orator, she would grace the chamber; a trained lawyer, she would add expertise to the process of analysing legislation.  A British Asian woman whose success has unimpeachably been achieved by merit, she is a example of what is best about 21st Century Britain.  I commend her to the House."

> Previous nomination: Alistair Cooke

Countdown to the Salisbury selection meeting

Saturday 4.45pm: Four of the candidates have answered a Q&A for the Salisbury and Stonehenge website. Victoria Atkins has posted her final newsletter of the campaign. As has Jeremy Quin. Yesterday I explained why I was supporting John Glen.

Thursday 3pm: I should draw attention to Fleur Butler's website and also Jeremy Quin's daily updated blog.

***

Over the next six days I'll be counting down to the Salisbury selection meeting.

Zehra Zaidi has launched her campaign website and John Glen has made this YouTube video (I'll happily post other material from other candidates):

It's been a week of campaigning, court appearances and a christening for Erewash PPC, Jessica Lee

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 Jessica Lee, who was selected in March 2007 for the Derbyshire constituency of Erewash, where Labour MP Liz Blackman announced earlier this month that she will not defend the seat at the general election. Jessica, who grew up locally, is a family law barrister. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Angela Knight until 1997 when the seat fell to Labour and, on paper, Jessica requires  a swing of 7.83% to gain the seat - although the arithmetic here is slightly confused by the fact that Robert Kilroy-Silk stood under the Veritas banner at the 2005 election.

Monday 18th January
I am off to a flying start to my week with a run of meetings and some campaigning on Monday. I spend the morning at the Association office writing election literature, planning constituency visits and reviewing our canvassing strategy with my agent, Allison Maguire. The sitting Labour MP has recently announced that she will stand down at the general election, but there is no decision as yet as to who will run as the Labour candidate. We are joined by the association chairman, Geoff Smith, for his input too.

This is also a useful opportunity for me to consider the latest batch of survey replies from local residents and consider what issues are raised. Issues such as fear of unemployment and helping young people in Erewash feature in the replies. We have delivered and sent thousands of surveys in the last year and the response rate has been overwhelming. People are replying and saying that they fed up with Gordon Brown and are ready for change in Erewash.

I have a meeting with Cllr Chris Corbett, the leader of the Conservative-run borough council in Erewash to review borough matters. I drop in at ProStart in Long Eaton today. This is a much-needed skills and training resource in Erewash. I am keen to support ProStart and similar organisations in their efforts to help people get back into work. I am returning to ProStart soon for a meeting, which will hopefully enable me to channel some further support and guidance for the work that they do.

The afternoon is a visit to the Erewash Partnership organisation in Ilkeston. This is a successful umbrella organisation that links together the local business community, the local authority and the voluntary sector. They have an Enterprise Centre for training and they offer many courses and networking opportunities throughout the year to help the business community. The organisation is politically neutral and will host visits across the board, but the Partnership are helping to host a visit from Adam Afriyie MP, Shadow Minster for Innovation and Science, next week. A meeting with Ian Viles, the Chief Executive is a useful review of the details of the visit and general preparations for next week.

Next stop for me is a meeting with the campaign fundraising team all of whom have done a sterling job in the last year, raising the thousands of pounds that are needed to run the general election campaign. We plan the structure for the final main fundraising event and I leave the finer details in the capable hands of the team: Pam, Julian, Rosie (my mum!) and Lynne. The rest of the day is a drive into work to collect the final papers for my trial the next day and then home for homework! It’s a case of burning the midnight oil tonight in preparation for work tomorrow.

The Labour and Lib Dem MPs in Tory target seats who will avoid the electorate's verdict at the general election

With several more Labour MPs in marginal seats having announced their intention to retire at the election in recent days, below is a list of the 46 Labour and Lib Dem MPs (so far) in the most winnable seats for the Conservatives who have opted not to defend their seats at the general election.

There are of course some who have retired on grounds of old age or ill health and several who are not standing again in the wake of "Expenses-gate", but one has to wonder how many have merely concluded that they are staring defeat in the face and want to avoid that spectre.

I have restricted the list to the Tories' top 200 target seats (the party needs to gain 117 seats to get a majority of one in Parliament) and the numbers refer to where they appear, on paper, on that target list (based on the Rallings and Thrasher figures). I am grateful to Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report for his comprehensive list of MPs who are retiring.

NB For the purpose of making the list comprehensive, I have included those whose health I understand to have dictated their decision, but I have marked them with an asterisk and make clear that I am in no way seeking to cast aspersions on their motives.

The full list is as follows:

Esther McVey's Labour MP opponent throws in the towel

The BBC reports that Stephen Hesford, Labour MP for Wirral West since 1997, has opted not to contest his seat at the general election.

He is citing "family reasons" for his decision.

It is the seat which businesswoman and former TV presenter, Esther McVey (pictured), will be contesting for the Conservatives for the second successive election.

According to the Rallings and Thrasher projection, the seat would have returned a Conservative MP at the last general election with a majority of a little over 500, if it had been fought under the new boundaries which are about to come into effect.

Jonathan Isaby

> Yesterday's Seats and candidates: Another Labour minister in a key marginal seat opts to quit at the general election

Another Labour minister in a key marginal seat opts to quit at the general election

News came at the end of this week that Ian Pearson, the Treasury minister, will not be defending his notional Labour majority of 3,222 at the general election in Dudley South.

The Birmingham Post notes that he has cited the long periods he spent away from home for the recent breakdown of his marriage and in a letter to local Labour members he said that it was "time to move on and do other things, including getting a better balance between my working and personal life".

Mr Pearson's decision to step down will be a further boost to the Conservative candidate, Chris Kelly (pictured), who has been in place since September 2007. He needs a swing of 4.5% to gain the seat at the coming general election and you can read more about him and his campaign on his website.

Jonathan Isaby

Kwasi Kwarteng selected for Spelthorne

He inherits David Wilshire's projected Tory majority of 9,936.

His recent articles for ConHome can be read here.

Commiserations to Philippa Broom, who he beat in the final round of voting by 222 votes to 179.

Tim Montgomerie

Sunday update:

We have uploaded this video of snippets of Kwasi's speech and reaction after his selection and there is a brief account of the meeting by a local journalist here.

Meanwhile, Graeme Reid, Association Chairman, has made the following statement:

“I congratulate Spelthorne Conservatives for enduring the entire three-month long selection process without a single voice of dissent in public. Despite a gruelling campaign including atrocious weather conditions early in January, we achieved a magnificent turnout of over 400, with Party members outnumbered almost two to one.  It was a truly open primary. Literally at the very end Kwasi Kwarteng came on and captured the audience’s confidence. With Spelthorne Conservatives united behind him, he is sure to go on and inspire the rest of the electorate.”

Jonathan Isaby

City of Liverpool Conservatives choose their election candidates

Left to Right: Pamela Hall (Liverpool West Derby), Sohail Qureshi (Bootle), Val Allen (St Helens South & Whiston), Paul Greenall (St Helens North), Chris Grayling MP (Shadow Minister for Liverpool), Richard Downey (Garston & Halewood), Kegang Wu (Liverpool Riverside), Leah Fraser and Adam Marsden (Liverpool Walton).

The following information comes from a party press release:

• The Candidate for Garston and Halewood, Richard Downey, was brought up in Cressington and was the Conservative Candidate for Woolton Ward at the Local Elections in 2008.  At those elections he increased the Conservative vote in Woolton by 69% and slashed the Lib Dems majority in the Ward to around 500.
• In Liverpool Riverside the Conservatives have selected Dr Kegang Wu who has worked in the Constituency for the last 15 years.  Originally from China, Dr Wu has been a lecturer at Liverpool University and was a Senior Manager for the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in Old Hall Street.
• In Liverpool Wavertree, Andrew Garnett was selected to fight the Constituency for the Conservatives.  Andrew was brought up in Childwall.
• In Liverpool West Derby, the Conservatives selected Cllr Pamela Hall from Chester.  Pamela has been successful in defeating two longstanding Liberal Democrat Councillors in Chester and is looking forward to bringing her successful campaigning experiences to Liverpool.
• In Liverpool Walton, the candidate will be Adam Marsden, who has been brought up in Liverpool and works for Tower Enterprise Funding in Liverpool City Centre.  Adam was the Conservative Candidate for Allerton and Hunts Cross Ward at the Local Elections in 2008, where he overtook the Labour Party Candidate to take second place.
• In Bootle, the Conservatives have chosen Sohail Qureshi, who has been working in the City for the last three years for his Property Company. 
• In Knowsley, local Candidate David Dunne, who lives in Tarbock Green, was chosen to fight the seat.  David, who went to school at St Edwards in Liverpool, works as a Barrister in the City in Harrington Street.

The Conservatives also selected their candidates for the St.Helens seats just before Christmas. Cllr Paul Greenall from West Lancs Borough Council has been selected for St.Helens North. In St.Helens South and Whiston the Conservative Party selected Val Allen, who is a parish councillor in Croft, near Warrington and is a member of the board of the Halton Chamber of Commerce. Val runs an engineering business in Widnes and is very keen to encourage companies to take on more apprentices.

City of Liverpool Conservatives Chairman Tony Caldeira commented:

“The Members have selected seven great Candidates and they all have local connections.  This means the Conservative Party in Merseyside is ready for a General Election, whenever Gordon Brown plucks up the courage to call it.”

Tim Montgomerie

Tory candidates want Michael Gove's job

On Sunday we published the league table of Tory candidates' priorities. Within the same survey of 141 candidates we asked them what ministerial job they'd most like if David Cameron was on the phone and about to put them on the frontbench. This word cloud summarises the answers:

Click on the graphic to enlarge.

The very smallest writing is for International Development (the job I'd choose), Housing and Scotland.

Tim Montgomerie

The six names in the frame for Bromsgrove - the first to be chosen under the "by-election rules"

I can tonight reveal the identity of the six candidates in the frame to replace Julie Kirkbride as Conservative candidate for Bromsgrove.

My CCHQ sources tell me that the association "requested" that the selection be done under the by-election rules - a decision which I find puzzling as I cannot imagine why an association would actively want to surrender its right to decide the shortlist.

Anyhow, that means that this is the first shortlist to have been compiled under the new by-election rules - by a committee of Eric Pickles, Jeremy Middleton and Patrick McLoughlin - although six names rather than three have been given to the association. They are:

• Charles Barwell - Vice President of the National Conservative Convention who comes from the West Midlands and works for a bank
• Ruth Davidson - Journalist who was candidate at the recent by-election in Glasgow North East
• Sajid Javid - Businessman and entrepreneur with family connections to the West Midlands
• Fiona Kemp - GP with 20 years' experience of the NHS who contested Truro and St Austell in 2005
• Tina Stowell - Head of Corporate Affairs at the BBC who ran William Hague's Office when he was party leader
• Mark Wooding - Maidstone Councillor (Cabinet Member for the Environment) who works in the retail industry

Bromsgrove Association chairman Alan Dent has released the following statement:

"We are pleased to be getting on with choosing our candidate for the next election. This has been a difficult time for the Association, and we are looking forward to selecting a successor for Julie Kirkbride to continue the work of standing up for Bromsgrove."

Jonathan Isaby

Brandon Lewis's Green opponent in Great Yarmouth steps down to support his campaign

News of a boost to the campaign this week of the Conservative candidate for Great Yarmouth, Brandon Lewis.

His Green opponent, Ian Holman (left in the picture), has stepped down and given his backing to Brandon (right), explaining:

“Whilst my political bias is a little left of the line I am happy to push aside party politics and declare my intention to give Brandon Lewis my personal vote at the forthcoming General Election. I have met Brandon and discussed local and national issues with him. In my view he has the drive, enthusiasm and commitment to become a great representative for Great Yarmouth. I would encourage voters of all political persuasions to give serious consideration to supporting him on polling day.”

Brandon Lewis welcomed his former opponent's support:

“It is an honour to have the support of Ian Holman. I know the huge importance he places on renewable energy and am keen for there to be more investment in  this industry especially in Great Yarmouth. With the announcement this week on Wind Farms I have written to the companies involved already to invite them to come and see what we have to offer in Great Yarmouth’, especially with our experience of Scroby sands wind farm. I am very grateful to Ian for his support for me personally as a prospective MP for Great Yarmouth.”

Jonathan Isaby

Some other priorities of the next generation of Conservative MPs

On Sunday night we published a league table of the personal priorities of the next generation of Conservative MPs. Pasted below are the candidates' entries to the 'Other priorities' box, below the list of the priorities we prepared for them to rate:

1. Untangling of red tape strangling British farmers
2. Establishing National Citizen Service for Young People
3. Strengthening the United Kingdom and ensuring that we set the agenda for dealing with the nationalist threat.
4. Creating the 100,000 real apprenticeships
5. Restoring private pension provision
6. New Nuclear Build, other new power supplies, and electricity saving measures, to reduce the imminent danger of power cuts within the next decade
7. Big tax breaks for entrepreneurs and those who endow schools and other public services
8. Improving standards in schools, Introducing measures to reduce youth unemployment, Improving outcomes in health
9. At very least lowering the legal time limits for abortion majorly, ideally to revoke the 1967 Abortion Act totally
10. Repairing the damage the Labour Party has caused to good race relations in our cities
11. All the housing talk is of more affordable homes. I'm more interested in expanding home ownership. For example restoring the right to buy discounts and extending right to buy to council estates. I also can't believe that conhome has no priority here around combatting domestic Islamic radicalisation! That is one of my top priorities.
12. Cannot answer the afghan and prison questions as both questions are hobsons choice - how does one define victory and one certainly wants less people on the conveyor to crime but prison is not the answer   
13. I have put the more young offenders in prison low because putting more people in prison is not a priority for me. Getting young people off of the conveyor belt to crime is however much higher up my agenda.
14. Energy security and food security - some totally new priorities
15. An overhaul of the special needs education system
16. Withdrawal from the EU
17. Combatting use of illegal substances, putting victim before criminal, end political correctness, get rid of Health and Safety Executive, Out of Europe
18. Preventing a nuclear Iran
19. Cutting the number of MPs, Restoring trust in Parliament through our behaviour
20. Ensuring that there is a system of pay and allowances that applies to ALL MPs not just new ones and that does not deter people without means to come into politics.
21. Making sure our service men and women have the kit and the training they need to do the job - defending British industries.
22. Community cohesion, Strenghening British indsustry and focus on new industries such as digital media, creative industries, life sciences
23. All are important and you are inviting a row of 5's with this question layout. The survey would have been better if it had forced priorities.
24. Giving more powers to local government, Building a better future for pensions, Avoiding inflation, Preventing terrorist attacks, More support for the social sector
25. Devolving more power to local authorities, elected police chiefs, the public and patients, and abolishing most quangoes
26. Starting to address all debt - UK Gov, and (importantly) personal debt.

Search for 100 Peers: Alistair Cooke

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

Here is the latest nomination in our series highlighting people David Cameron should consider appointing to the House of Lords, since any Conservative administration formed after the general election would be able to call upon the support of the lowest number of Conservative peers in history.  

If you would like to nominate someone, please email Jonathan Isaby with your suggestion, including key arguments for the nomination as well as biographical information. The sources of nominations will be treated confidentially where requested.

No. 57: Alistair Cooke

Michael Brown writes:

"I would like to nominate Alistair Cooke.

"Mr Cooke has been a senior policy adviser and effectively the modern Conservative Party's historian for many years. Apart from a seven-year stint as director general of the Independent Schools Association, he has spent a lifetime working for the party.

"He is universally admired across the party for his research skills. He has worked for every party leader for the past 35 years. Many have said that if it was not for Alistair, David Cameron might never have become party leader. It was Mr Cooke who interviewed him for his first job at the Conservative Research Department in the late 1980s.

"Mr Cooke was honoured with a OBE for his services to politics in 1988, but I believe he would have a major contribution to make in the House of Lords. He is a man of great wisdom with a love of the Party, Parliament and politics."

There are more details about Alistair Cooke's works and writings here on the Conservative Party website.  

> Previous nomination: Toby Baxendale

The future of Dungeness nuclear power station, remembering WWI veterans and judging the local sloe gin all feature in a busy week for Damian Collins in Folkestone and Hythe

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 Damian Collins, who was selected in July 2006 for Folkestone and Hythe, where Michael Howard is standing down at the general election and bequeathing a notional Conservative majority of 12,446 to Damian. A former political officer of the Bow Group, he contested Northampton North in 2005 and has worked in the advertising and communications industry for over a decade. He is married with two children and you can read more about him and his campaign on his blog. Here's his diary of the last seven days...

This week we have been battling with the elements in East Kent, but a week which started with thick snow on the ground across Folkestone and Hythe ended with a warming debate in the BBC South East studios.

The previous weekend we had had heavy snow, which had closed roads and made it difficult to get out. At home in Elham the temperature one morning was as low as minus 6 degrees Celsius, and my daughter Claudia's snowman was enjoying a longer than expected life in the garden.

Snow disruptions, particularly when they affect the Channel Tunnel, the car and lorry entrance for which is just outside Folkestone, can cause lots of problems. Lorries are 'Stacked' on the M20 motorway leading to complete closures between junctions. We have an urgent need for investment in the general road and rail freight infrastructure around the Tunnel and also the Port of Dover. I have written about this issue before on my blog.

However, the bad weather hadn't been enough to deter the contestants for the annual Romney Marsh Sloe Gin Competition at the Ship Inn in Dymchurch. I had been asked once more to join the panel of judges and on a blind tasting. The winner's cup went again to our local County Councillor, Willie Richardson, and the funds raised from the event went to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Dungeness appeal.

Willie has also been closely involved with one of the major issues which has recently affected the constituency: the future of Dungeness and the prospects for a new nuclear power station there. The Dungeness 'B' power station is due to come to the end of its operating life in 2018 and the site had been on the Government's shortlist for a new generation station to be built. However, following some questions raised by Natural England on the environmental impact of the new station on the shingle beds that form the Dungeness peninsular, the plan was dropped. This decision is still part of a consultation process that will close on 22nd February and there is considerable local support for a new power station which could create up to 2,000 local jobs. It could also supply more than enough clean energy to power the the whole of Kent.

Cutting the deficit is the top priority of Tory candidates (reducing Britain's carbon footprint is the lowest priority)

ConservativeHome and ConservativeIntelligence have just polled the 250 Tory candidates in our most winnable seats. We are publishing the personal priorities of the 141 that answered the survey as a taster for other exclusive material that will be published on Wednesday 20th January within our Guide to the 2010 Tory manifesto conference and publication. Click here to order the manifesto guide or/and to attend the conference.

The survey finds that in terms of personal priorities, cutting the deficit is top-of-the-league. Helping small businesses is priority two and reducing welfare bills is priority three.

Interestingly, three issues associated with the modernising agenda (civil liberties, defending the NHS and fighting poverty) score above winning powers back from Europe and reducing the level of immigration.

At the bottom of the league table of personal priorities is a reduction in Britain's carbon footprint. Just eight adopted candidates said it would be a top priority for them in the next parliament. It was the only policy goal that fell below 3.0 (the middle ranking). If the Tory leadership presses ahead with a decarbonisation strategy it will need to redouble Greg Clark's tactic of emphasising the wider benefits of all green measures (eg in terms of energy security or household fuel bills). Candidates' 'green scepticism' is shared by the Tory grassroots. 76% of Conservative members want Cameron to focus on energy bills above climate change.

One of the exclusive surveys which will be published at Wednesday's conference is the result of a vote of fifty Westminster insiders, ranking the likely priorities of a new Conservative government in its first 100 days.

Tim Montgomerie

The candidate results are presented below. The actual question asked was "Please say for you, personally, which of the following policy goals will be most important for you in the next Parliament if you are elected. Please choose close to 1 if the goal will not be important to you and close to 5 if it will be very important."

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The wealth of data collected by ConservativeIntelligence about the next generation of Conservative MPs can be read by scrolling down this page.

Blacklisted Tory candidate fails to get on South Staffordshire shortlist despite local members' support

Yesterday I published the final six shortlist for Staffordshire South.

One of the six was NOT Nigel Hastilow.

Mr Hastilow - who has twice previously been forced to resign as a Conservative candidate - was one of the choices of the six South Staffs representatives who attended the obligatory shortlisting meeting at CCHQ. They eventually conceded that he would not appear on the shortlist after repeated objections from Eric Pickles.

Mr Hastilow has written at length about his treatment on his blog. He accuses Eric Pickles of dishonesty in blocking his candidacy and John Maples of being "particularly obnoxious". Hastilow alleges that Mr Maples told him that he'd be a fine candidate but did nothing to support him in the shortlisting meeting. Mrs Hastilow was Mr Maples' secretary until she resigned in protest at her husband's treatment.

Mr Hastilow has embarrassed the party in the past by praising Enoch Powell. That led to his resignation in 2007 as Tory candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis.  Years earlier he had to resign as remained the party's Edgbaston candidate for despite using a website to make critical remarks of then Tory leader, William Hague.

I've had Mr Hastilow's account of the meeting at CCHQ independently verified.  I 100% understand why CCHQ would not want a controversial character being readopted but they should have removed Mr Hastilow from the candidates list and not given him false hope. There is a dishonesty in keeping him on the candidates list, John Maples telling him that he'd be a good MP but then blocking his candidacy when a local Association nominates him.

CCHQ declined to comment this evening.

Tim Montgomerie

Final six for Staffordshire South

The shortlist of six to succeed Sir Patrick Cormack:

1. Simon Baynes
2. Chris Emmett
3. Robert Light
4. Katy Lindsay
5. Lucille Nicholson
6. Gavin Williamson

None of the six live in the constituency.

The final will take place on Friday January 29th.

Tim Montgomerie

Conservatives promise £250,000pa to help disabled people become MPs and councillors

The Conservatives yesterday promised £1m to fund a four year programme that would help more disabled people become MPs, councillors and civil servants.  Tory spokesman on disability issues, Mark Harper MP is quoted in The Guardian:

"Despite there being over 10 million disabled people in the UK, they are still under-represented in public life. It is important that we break down the barriers which prevent disabled people from standing for public office. Given the recent damage done to the standing of parliament and our politics, it is all the more important that we open up our democracy and set up this fund to ensure that disabled people are given a fair chance to enter public life."

The money would come from efficiency savings in existing budgets and would be adminstered by disability charities who devised the best ways of increasing access.

Tim Montgomerie