With just over a week to go before nominations close, and a host of key seats yet to select, here are the latest shortlists which I have been able to confirm:
Milton Keynes North (Conservative majority 1,915)
Selection date: Wednesday 6th November
Cllr Ben Everitt: A District Councillor in Aylesbury Vale, the neighbouring local authority to Milton Keynes, for the last seven years Everitt has worked for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is currently the Institute’s Head of Strategy. He began his career working in farming, and is a former Conservative Association Chairman. He was recently a finalist in Buckingham.
Cllr Helen Harrison: A District Councillor in East Northamptonshire, Harrison runs her own physiotherapy business, having previously spent much of her career in the NHS. She fought Ashfield in the 2015 General Election and Bolsover in 2017, and serves as Chairman of the Corby and East Northants Conservative Association. She was Chief Executive of the pro-Brexit campaign group Grassroots Out and is involved in the Leave Means Leave campaign. She was recently a finalist in Rushcliffe. Cllr Harrison has written for ConservativeHome.
Mark Lehain: A teacher by profession, Lehain founded the Bedford Free School and became its first Principal. For the last two years he has run the campaigning organisation Parents and Teachers for Excellence, which supports greater freedom for and higher standards in schools (he left PTE last week). His articles for ConservativeHome can be found here.
——-
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Conservative majority: 13,980)
Selection date: Thursday 7th November
Cllr David Simmonds: Cllr Simmonds is the Deputy Leader of London Borough of Hillingdon, and serves as Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services. He has represented Ickenham ward, in the constituency, since 1998, and he serves as Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association. Simmonds is a Director of the localist think tank Localis, and his articles for ConservativeHome can be found here.
Cllr Ameet Jogia: A Harrow councillor since 2014, including serving as Shadow Cabinet member for Culture and Community, Cllr Jogia’s day job is as a political aide to Lord Popat of Harrow. Previously, while working for Network Rail, he qualified as a railway signaller and deputy station manager. Jogia contested Brent North in the 2017 General Election.
Resham Kotecha: A strategy adviser by profession, Kotecha lives in the constituency and grew up locally. She is Head of Engagement for Women2Win, and the Conservative Party’s Chair for North West London. She recently worked as Director of Strategy and Education at UK Anti-Doping. Kotecha contested Coventry North West in 2017, and Dulwich and West Norwood in 2015, and has previously written for ConservativeHome.
——-
Eddisbury (Conservative majority: 11,942)
Selection date: Thursday 7th November
Cllr Simon Eardley: A Cheshire West and Chester District Councillor, Eardley is also a Trustee of Cheshire Drugwatch Trust. In his day job, he manages Maritime UK’s Regional Cluster Development Programme. He previously worked as a campaign manager for the Conservative Party, and running the North West office of Jacqueline Foster MEP.
Graham Evans: Formerly MP for Weaver Vale, which he represented from 2010 until defeat in 2017, Evans served as PPS to Greg Barker and Michael Fallon. Prior to election to Westminster, he worked in manufacturing for 20 years, served as a Macclesfield councillor and also spent four years as a Special Constable. He has written for ConservativeHome.
Edward Timpson: Formerly MP for Crewe and Nantwich, which he gained at the 2008 by-election and subsequently lost in 2017, Timpson rose to be Minister of State for Children and Families from 2015-2017. By profession he is a barrister specialising in family law. Earlier this year, he published the Timpson Review into school exclusions, a report commissioned in 2018 by the Department for Education. His ConservativeHome articles can be found here.
——-
As ever, our coverage relies on a large number of people who choose to share insights and tips about the process in the interests of transparency and internal party democracy. Thank you to all those who have contributed so far – if you know the date of a selection meeting, the composition of a shortlist, or the name of a successful candidate, please let us know here. We always respect our sources’ right to anonymity.