ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Nick Hillman continues to highlight the folly of voting Lib Dem in Cambridge and gets celebrity backing for his campaign

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 Nick Hillman, who was selected in December for Cambridge, where sitting Lib Dem MP David Howarth is standing down and he has his sights on gaining the seat, which last held for the Conservatives by Robert Rhodes James until 1992 (at which election it was gained by Labour). You can read more about Nick's campaign on his website, donate to that campaign here and follow him on Twitter.

Monday 25th January
We welcome a new volunteer who is joining us for six weeks to learn about politics. Our first task is a canvassing session. We find many supporters, though we also find the Labour vote holding up. At least Labour voters often willingly say who they support, so we get clear information. We also chat with a former Lib Dem activist who complains his old party runs Cambridge like a one-party state. He may not vote for us, but he certainly won’t vote for them.

In the evening, I speak at a Burns Supper fundraiser. It is only my second full speech since becoming the PPC and my nerves show, but I get the chance to thank the outgoing PPC, who is an old friend. The dinner is to help get a second Tory councillor in Coleridge ward, and we have a strong candidate in Andy Bower.

In my speech, I express hope that election day 2010 will be more successful for me than the last one. In 2005, I was mugged while getting out the vote and – after leaving the police station – found the front wheel and saddle of my bike had been stolen! I also mention the time I met Margaret Thatcher which, as she was rather rude to me, won a laugh.

Tuesday 26th January
Our Association Chairman, Dr Sarah El-Neil, and I have been working hard to get our first proper piece of literature for 2010 ready. We are in essay-crisis mode. The biggest problem is that we have so much to say that it is hard to boil it down to the essentials.

Nick Hillman's 'tips for getting selected'

Nick Hillman was selected yesterday for Cambridge.

I add my public congratulations to those Jonathan gave yesterday.

On his blog he has listed ten tips for 'getting selected' including...

and

Read all of Nick's tips here.

Tim Montgomerie

Nick Hillman selected for Cambridge

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

Six names short-listed for Cambridge Open Primary

Six candidates have been shortlisted for the forthcoming Open Primary in Cambridge, where a Conservative candidate to replace Richard Normington will be chosen on Saturday 12th December.

They are:

• Eve Conway
• Sarah El-Neil
• Chamali Fernando
• Jane Gould
• Mark Higgins
• Nick Hillman

More biographical details are on the Cambridge Conservatives' website.

Any Cambridge resident wanting to register to attend the meeting must register through the association's website before midnight this Wednesday, 9th December.

Jonathan Isaby

Two safe seats feature among the latest six to be seeking a candidate

Today the call has gone out for applications to the following six constituencies:

Two safe seats where the sitting MP is standing down

• Orpington - where John Horam recently announced his retirement. He will bequeath a notional Conservative majority to his successor of 5,221 over the Liberal Democrats.
• Spelthorne - where David Wilshire recently announced his retirement. He bequeaths a majority of 9,936 over Labour to his successor.

Two seats where a candidate recently stood down

• Caerphilly - where Craig Piper has just stood down as PPC. The seats has been in Labour hands since 1918 and the current MP, Wayne David, will defend a notional majority of 13,517 over Plaid Cyrmru, with the Conservatives in third place on 14.7% of the vote.
• Cambridge - where Richard Normington stood down as PPC last month. The sitting Lib Dem MP, David Howarth, has since announced that he will be stepping down as well. He 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.   

And two further seats in Wales

• Ceredigion - A seat which has a long history of Liberal/Lib Dem representation, although was briefly held by Labour in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and had a Plaid Cymru MP between 1992 and 2005, when Mark Williams regained it for the Lib Dems. He has a notional majority of 218 over Plaid Cymru, with the Tories in third place on 12.4% of the vote.
• Llanelli - A seat which has returned a Labour MP at every election since 1922, sitting MP Nia Griffith has a majority of 7,234 over Plaid Cymru, with the Conservatives in third place with 13.7% of the vote.

Applications for these seats must be submitted by Monday November 30th at Midday.

Jonathan Isaby

Richard Normington resigns as PPC for Cambridge

News reaches me that Richard Normington has just stepped down as candidate for Cambridge, a seat for which he was selected back in December 2007.

No statement has been issued but it seems that his decision is not unrelated to the election and subsequent actions of a new team of senior association officers this year.

Jonathan Isaby

12.30pm update: Below is the exchange of letters between Mr Normington and Baroness Perry, the association President.

Dear Pauline,

For nearly two years now I have been the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Cambridge, working with James Strachan and now Sarah El Neil as the chairmen of the Association.

During that time we saw the election of a Conservative back onto the City Council, our party overtake Labour at the European Elections to challenge the Lib Dems for top billing, and campaigns to improve life in our City including against congestion charging and to keep post offices open.

However, having done this, and with the prospect of an autumn election passing, I am now stepping down. The Association has a new leadership and I believe needs a new person to take the fight into the final months of the campaign. I hope my successor can be chosen swiftly.

I look forward to working with whoever is chosen to ensure Cambridge plays its part in the election of a Cameron-led government. You know that at the next election the question will be whether Gordon Brown or David Cameron will be Prime Minister. Only a vote for a Conservative candidate will put David into Downing Street.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Normington

Richard Normington selected for Cambridge

Richard Normington has been selected for the LibDem-held seat of Cambridge.  The LibDems have a projected majority of 5,058 over second-placed Labour.  Richard used to run the international relations department at Conservative Central Office.