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
