Half men and women rule as Tories vote for MP hopeful (From This Is Local London)

Tory MP candidate for Wycombe to be chosen later this month

3:09pm Thursday 22nd October 2009 in News By Oliver Evans

THE Wycombe Conservative candidate for the next general election will be decided on October 31 from the first ever mandatory 50/50 gender shortlist.

Wycombe Conservative Association today refused to reveal the six names, who will face up to 300 party members at the final vote on October 31.

It is the first time the party has followed Conservative Campaign Headquarters rules to have at least 50 per cent women on the list. It has three men and three women.

Current MP Paul Goodman is stepping down at the next election, which has to be called by June next year, over his disillusionment with Parliament (see link, bottom of story).

Local officials met party bosses yesterday to finalise the shortlist. Candidates had to get on an approved national list first through interviews at CCHQ.

The selection process collapsed last month after CCHQ said the proper procedures had not been followed (see links).

It was alleged some candidates but not others had been invited to a drinks get together.

The 50/50 gender split comes amid a row within the party after leader David Cameron said some all-women shortlists could be imposed by CCHQ.

Previously, Wycombe District Council leader Lesley Clarke said she would not stand because the party was biased towards men (see links).

The constituency had one woman MP, the Liberal Party’s Vera Woodhouse, from 1923 to 1924.

Agent Sue Hynard said of the candidates: “They are all very good people and I’m sure the winner will make an excellent MP for the area.”

Candidates will get 20 minutes to address party members and take moderated questions from the floor at Lane End Conference Centre from 2pm.

All questions will be put to all candidates, said Mrs Hynard, in a session expected to last four hours.

A decision has yet to be taken when to tell members the candidates, she said, and only a small circle of people at present know the names.

Bucks Free Press will bring you news of the selected candidate on the day.

Political commentators widely expect the Conservatives to hold the seat, which has only fallen out of Tory hands for seven years in the last century.