I gather that an announcement is imminent from Richard Spring MP has announced that he will be standing down as MP for Suffolk West at the general election.
An announcement today means that his association will not have to select a candidate under the restrictive by-election rules, as will be the case for anyone making that announcement after January 1st. (Click here for the list of Conservative MPs who have and haven't confirmed their intentions to ConHome as to whether or not they intnend standing again.)
He will bequeath a 8,735 majority over Labour to his successor as Conservative candidate.
10.30am update:
Here is the text of the letter that Richard Spring has sent today to his association chairman, Cllr Colin Noble:
"I am writing to you to confirm that I shall not be contesting the West Suffolk constituency again, and will be leaving the House of Commons when the General Election is called.
"I have taken the decision with very mixed feelings. I will have been the local Member of Parliament for eighteen years by the time the General Election takes place next year. It has been the greatest possible honour to have been the parliamentary representative for West Suffolk. I have enjoyed this role immensely. It has been a huge privilege to defend and promote local electors’ interests both in Suffolk and in the House of Commons.
"I am most grateful to you for the way you have chaired the Association, and in particular pay tribute to you and Dorothy Whittaker, my constituency agent. It would not have been possible to fulfil my duties without your guidance and support.
"It goes without saying that I shall give my fullest support to the future prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency, who I confidently believe will be the next Member of Parliament for West Suffolk."
Afternoon update:
I am hearing that the shortlisting will happen on January 5th, with a final - most likely an Open Primary meeting - on January 15th.
Jonathan Isaby