But will the selections for seats where MPs lost the Whip be under central control? Plus: Bosworth candidate selected.
The Party’s rules – and the history of legal challenges to them – make for grim reading for the former Chancellor.
Two-thirds of this latest tranche come with a caveat that applicants may be deselected if the boundary review goes ahead.
Four female candidates contest tonight’s selection meeting for this very marginal seat – without any need for an all-women quota.
The association meets tonight to choose the person whom it hopes will succeed Nick Boles.
A local councillor, a former MP, a Brexit-focused economic analyst, and a former RAF pilot turned farmer will compete for the role on Saturday.
She will take on Emma Dent Coad, who has a majority of 20.
Boris Johnson’s former Head of Policy, the former Co-Chair of Women for Britain, and a geneticist who manages the Conservative Policy Forum make the final.
He is not wide of the election manifesto on which he stood, and should not be no-confidenced this evening. But there is a sting in the tail.
Both have chosen people with previous experience of their constituencies, which will stand them in good stead in the event of an early election.
ConservativeHome reveals the full slate of 71 candidates, standing in every region and nation of the UK.
Who will stand? Will Tory incumbents run again? Is there capacity to fight a proper campaign? What would the message be?
Will many candidates want to stand, given the popular anger about such an election even happening?
“There is a small cabal that sees each election cycle as a reason to have another go.”