ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Anthony Ridge-Newman selected for Ynys Môn

On Saturday, Anthony Ridge-Newman was selected as Conservative candidate for Ynys Môn - otherwise known as the Isle of Anglesey - in a five-cornered contest on the first ballot.

He is currently a councillor for Viriginia Water on Runnymede Council in Surrey and his website is here. He replaces the previously-selected Conservative candidate, Trefor Jones, who recently stood down.

The seat is a rarity in that it has been represented by MPs from all four main parties in Wales over the last 60 years. It was Tory-held between 1979 and 1987, but is technically now classed a Labour/Plaid marginal, with the Conservatives having come fourth with 11% of the vote in 2005 - although the third-placed Independent, Peter Rogers, had previously been a Conservative Assembly Member.

Jonathan Isaby

Nominations open in three more safe seats

The latest tranche of constituencies seeking a candidate was released yesterday and includes three safe seats where sitting MPs have announced their retirements in recent days.

The closing date for the following four seats is 14th December.

Salisbury - The seat being vacated by Robert Key. He bequeaths a notional majority of 8,860 over the Lib Dems.

Staffordshire South - The seat being vacated by Sir Patrick Cormack. He bequeaths a notional majority of 8,346 over Labour.

Suffolk West - The seat being vacated by Richard Spring. He bequeaths a majority of 8,735 over Labour.

Ynys Môn - Known as the Isle of Anglesey to its non-Welsh-speaking minority, where it would appear that the previously-selected Trefor Jones has stood down. The seat is a rarity in that it has been represented by MPs from all four main parties in Wales over the last 60 years. It was Tory-held between 1979 and 1987, but is now a Labour/Plaid marginal, with the Conservatives coming fourth with 11% of the vote in 2005 - although the third-placed Independent, Peter Rogers, had previously been a Conservative Assembly Member.

Jonathan Isaby

Trefor Jones selected for Ynys Mon

Otherwise known as Anglesey. The seat is a Lab/PC marginal with the Conservatives getting only 11% of the vote last time.

Trefor was the Assembly candidate there in Ceredigion last year and has now restarted his blog as a result of this weekend's selection.