Wednesday 5 November 2014

Conservative Party changing on merit -Jo Churchill selected in Bury St Edmunds & 4 women in Banbury Final

Last night the Bury St Edmunds Conservatives chose Jo Churchill, businesswoman [she helps run a scaffolding firm] and mum as their candidate: I have met Jo - she will be an outstanding, no nonsense, MP with real life experience and a great deal to offer Suffolk, the House of Commons and her country - more details here:.
http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/11/jo-churchill-selected-for-bury-st-edmunds.html

The interesting point is that she defeated 2 other outstanding women - Helen Whately and Zehra Zaidi, and able James Cleverly = a strong shortlist.

And on Saturday the Banbury Conservatives choose their parliamentary candidate from a list of 4 women, all of whom have been helped by Women to Win, but again a list chosen on merit, not by an imposed all women shortlist.
Update: the Banbury Conservatives have now published the following about Saturday's selection:
"The Executive Council interviewed eleven candidates on Saturday (five men and six women) who were objectively marked against a set of predetermined criteria.

The names [of the 4 finalists] are as follows:
  • Kemi Badenoch
  • Rachel Joyce
  • Victoria Prentis
  • Helen Whately