A Westminister local, Barnes follows the common tendency towards ‘local champions’ in recent selections.
A rolling list of those Tory MPs choosing not to contest their seats again.
Deane told ConservativeHome that he intended his campaign to be a “model of civility” having been “appalled” at Mike Freer’s experiences.
Nobody would be surprised if Bishop Auckland or Wolverhampton West returned to Labour. But if the Liberal Democrats beat Caroline Newton in Henley, doom looms for the Tories.
Despite not being from Southampton, Yankson claims to have a third of a century’s worth of experience there, having first visited when a student at Durham University.
The shirkers-versus-strivers narrative around cutting the welfare bill fails to recognise the reality that a quarter of Britons have a disability, and one third have unpaid caring responsibilities.
Fraser won on the second ballot, having given attendees a “clear understanding of how she thinks”.
British Future has been able to project the demographics of the next parliament by putting together retirement patterns and current candidate selection data with the likely electoral map given different election results.
One attendee described the selection meeting to ConservativeHome as having had a “very healthy turnout”, with a “great mix of people”, and a “warm and receptive” atmosphere.
Whatever Harrison’s personal qualities as a candidate, her selection has immediately been overshadowed by her personal life. Harrison is the girlfriend of Peter Bone: the current Wellingborough MP who has been forced to stand down.
This continues the general trend of associations choosing male and local candidates.
Based on recent experience, Fifield seems the most plausible favourite, given associations seem often to favour selecting local councillors. We wish all three the very best of luck.
CCHQ has no constitutional power to impose a particular replacement candidate on the association if he loses the vote.
Local members said Dewhirst’s great virtue was that he was a local, standing in his own constituency. They were “unwilling to take a punt” on an outsider.
I believe with every fibre of my being that whatever criticisms might be levelled at the current government, our country is infinitely better off under the Conservatives than Labour.