Will CCHQ impose an all women shortlist in East Surrey?
James Forsyth 12:22pm
East Surrey will be the first seat where Tory central office gets to impose a shortlist of three candidates on a local association. Peter Ainsworth, its MP, has today announced that he is stepping down and because he has waited until the New Year to make this announcement CCHQ’s emergency candidate selection rules now apply.
The first thing to watch for is whether the Tories go for an all women shortlist. When Cameron said in October that the party would have some “all-women shortlists to help us boost the number of Conservative women MPs” there was a furious reaction from some sections of the grassroots. There was even talk of setting up a legal fighting fund to challenge the decision. Cameron has, though, subsequently finessed his position, implying that there would only be all women shortlists where the three best candidates were women.
Another interesting thing will be if there are any local candidates on the list. Also look to see if any Tory SPAd or other well connected figure is placed on the list. East Surrey is a plum seat, even in 1997 the Tories polled more than fifty percent here, and any Tory who gets it knows they have a seat for life. So, the lobbying to get on the shortlist will be intense.
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Noa "Lolly" Lolita Zrk
January 5th, 2010 1:28pm Report this commentAs a person of possible transgender intent I have submitted my CV for this interesting post to CCHQ at 30 Millbank etc.
Whilst I recognise that many, but by no means all of the Conservative community in this delightful locale (so close to the West End, but still near the country, we dears!) share many of the same interests and more importantly most if not all of the concerns of the day about what that absolute Beast Gordon and his naughty little Peter are doing to the price of tickets. And I consider myself uniquely able to understand and address them all; whoever or whatever CCHQ decides to do here. So just remember, Darlings (oh no I've used a Bad word!) I will be there for you when you need me...
Vulture
January 5th, 2010 1:47pm Report this comment'Cameron has...finessed his position'. Isn't that the story of his life?
Anya
January 5th, 2010 1:50pm Report this commentI object strongly to positive discrimination of this sort. Choose the BEST, irrespective of gender/sexual orientation/ethnicity/etc! We've had a decade or more of positive discrimination (which discriminates against those who don't fit the criteria) and political correctness. I want a REAL change!
Fergus Pickering
January 5th, 2010 4:56pm Report this commentDoes this bring in the classy bint vote, then?
Verity
January 5th, 2010 8:05pm Report this commentFergus P - Well, it wouldn't bring in this bint, that's for sure. In any constituency in which I reside, I want the best candidate, the most committed, the cleverest, the quickest on his/her feet, and someone with a moral compass.
Added to all his other faults, David Cameron is so patronising.
St Bruno
January 5th, 2010 10:08pm Report this commentLets face it women are the best candidates for the Tories at this moment in time, judging by what they have in the House now a selection of three legged grommets would do a better job. An ethnic woman of the Asian or Afro-British kind would fill the bill better, even more people would resist voting Tory then.
JohnAnt
January 6th, 2010 2:07am Report this commentEast Surrey used to feature prominently in those Daily Telegraph P.3 stories of 'Betrayed Oxted Wife Kills Husband With Lawn-mower,' 'Woldingham Woman Lives Openly With Her Brazilian Gardener in Family Home', or 'Serial Divorcee Claims Fifth Scalp in Caterham.'
So there must be quite a few well-off E. Surrey ladies with time on their hands.
Why not harness all that energy?
Just don't expect a reform of the Divorce Laws if they do get elected.
(I'm sure West Sussex must also field a strong team - I didn't mean to be countyist.)
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