Connor Donnithorne has been selected as the new Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Camborne and Redruth. He will be hoping to succeed George Eustice, the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, who has opted to not to pursue re-election after 13 years as the constituency’s MP.
Donnithorne is 26, and holds the Transport portfolio on Cornwall County Council. He is 26, born and raised in Cornwall, helped set up Seasmiths Fish and Chips – a multi-award winning chain – and lives in the constituency with his family. At his last election in 2021, he achieved a 35 per cent swing – and is “really proud” to have been selected.
A local source told ConservativeHome that although the selection was “very tight” with “three excellent candidates”, Donnithorne managed to win on the first ballot. He was up against Olly Monk, a fellow Cornwall councillor, and Alex Rogers, who has worked for Grant Shapps. Each candidate gave “great presentations” and “would be brilliant MPs”.
Our local source said they were “100 per cent convinced” the seat could be retained at the next election with Donnithorne as the candidate. Electoral Calculus currently gives Labour a 82 per cent of victory, so we wish Donnithorne the best of luck. As ever, please contact me at william@conservativehome.com with any candidates and selections hints and tips.