ConservativeHome hears that there was a non-A-list shortlist in Reading West: Anne Crampton, Alok Sharma and Cllr Emma Webster. Reading Councillor Andrew Cumpsty was put through to the last four but it was decided to only have three candidates at the final stage.
Alok, the winning candidate, lives with his family in Caversham and is the second selected candidate from an ethnic minority (without the help of the A-list). He is the son of Dr Prem Sharma, who is President of Reading East Conservative Association and founder of both the India Development Trust and Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India.
It will take a 5.79% swing to beat Martin Salter's 4980 Labour majority.
Deputy Editor