This afternoon, at a special general meeting of Suffolk Coastal Conservative Association, Therese Coffey was selected on the first ballot from a field of six to replace John Gummer as Conservative candidate at the general election. Nadhim Zahawi came second (as he did in Devizes).
She put in a superb performance - and I should know as I was presiding over the meeting!
She told me afterwards:
"I am thrilled to have been chosen by the great people of Suffolk Coastal Conservatives. There are many issues to tackle here and I have a lot to learn from John Gummer but the critical thing is to win the general election three months' today. Tonight I'll be celebrating but tomorrow I'll be starting work for the people of Suffolk Coastal - and I will be moving into the constituency by Valentine's Day."
I am reliably informed that she is set to be Suffolk's first ever female MP.
She will defend a notional Conservative majority of 9,674 over Labour.
Jonathan Isaby
