MP hunt suspended as procedures "not followed" (From This Is Local London)

Wycombe MP hunt suspended as procedures "not followed"

5:45pm Tuesday 15th September 2009 in News By Oliver Evans

THE selection of Wycombe’s next Conservative Parliamentary candidate has been suspended as the “correct procedures weren’t followed”.

The bid to find a successor for Paul Goodman MP, who will not fight the seat at the next general election, will re-start next month.

Conservative Party spokesman Giles Kenningham said: “The correct procedures weren’t followed.

“Subsequently the election has been suspended and will be re-run in October.

“Anyone who has applied need not re-apply.”

He declined to elaborate on what procedures had not been followed.

Wycombe Conservative agent Sue Hynard was tonight not available for comment.

Mr Goodman declined to comment.

Last month, the Bucks Free Press reported that hopefuls had to be accepted onto the party’s national list of approved candidates, recently opened by David Cameron.

It would then be left up to the local party to decide the final candidate, which could include a primary-style election, Mrs Hynard said at the time.

The story was reported on website Conservative Home, which has close links to the party.

Story author Jonathan Isaby wrote: “My understanding is that those responsible for the process had not adhered to the correct selection procedures in terms of running a fair and open selection in which all applicants were given the same opportunities to be selected for the seat.”

Wycombe District Council leader Lesley Clarke last month said she would not stand because “I am too old and also not a man” (see link, below).