Nominations have opened this afternoon in the search for a Conservative candidate in Suffolk Coastal, the seat being vacated at the general election by John Gummer.
Applications close at midday on Monday 18th January and the final selection will be conducted at a special general meeting of the association on Saturday February 6th.
Mr Gummer will bequeath a notional majority of 9,674 over Labour to his successor as Conservative candidate.
It is strange, though, that those on the candidates' list have still not been invited to apply for Bromsgrove, which Julie Kirkbride finally confirmed she will be vacating a week before Christmas. Given the timing of that announcement, that ought to be the last seat to which all those on the list will be able to apply under the old rules.
Jonathan Isaby