The publication of CCHQ's "priority list" of candidates here in May 2006 was a big moment in the four year development of ConservativeHome, with all attempts by the party to keep the identity of the names on the
so-called A-List a secret quickly being blown away.
But
if these were the chosen candidates which the party hierarchy
wanted to see fast-tracked into Parliament, how successful was the
exercise and what has happened to those who have not yet been selected?
Three years on, ConservativeHome decided to find out.
Of those 100 names on the original priority list (one listed as
being there, Timothy Coleridge, says that he was never on it, but merely given dispensation to apply for one notionally safe seat with which he had local links), our
analysis has found that almost half – 45 – have been selected – but
that more than a quarter have stopped looking for a seat for the
general election which will take place in the next twelve months.
Here is a summary of our findings:
45 have been selected for parliamentary seats
27 are still seeking a seat
27 are not currently seeking a seat for the next general election
The intentions of 1 are unknown; please email me if you have information about Richard Evans
Today,
in this separate thread, we identify those who are no longer seeking a
seat and over the coming days we will list
those who fall into the other categories.
In due course we will publish a piece considering the experiences of those initial
A-Listers, for which I am still keen to talk to those on the list to
whom I have not yet spoken. If that includes you, please get in touch by email.
Jonathan Isaby