ConservativeHome can reveal the procedure under which shortlists of candidates will be drawn up for the seats where sitting MPs have announced their retirement since January 1st - and it will not involve the controversial Deputy Chairman responsible for Candidates, John Maples.
Mr Maples staggered party the party at the beginning of the week by announcing his own retirement ten days after the so-called "by-election rules" kicked in - meaning that his own local association in Stratford-on-Avon will not be able to choose a shortlist of candidates to interview; rather, a list of names will be given to the association by CCHQ.
And the procedure by which those names will be drawn up will be as follows:
- Those on the candidates' list wanting to express their interest in a seat should do so in an email to Gareth Fox of the Candidates' Department, who will administer the process;
- Party Chairman Eric Pickles will conduct an initial sift;
- There will then be a meeting at which Eric Pickles, Patrick McLoughlin, the Opposition Chief Whip, and Jeremy Middleton, representing the voluntary party as chairman of the National Conservative Convention, will draw up the final shortlist for the association - no-one else will be involved in the process.
Speaking to ConservativeHome, Eric Pickles signalled that he is determined that names are matched as best as is possible with appropriate constituencies. He said:
"I intend to ensure that this system is as fair and as straightforward as I can make it. You will not see the same names in every seat."
He also indicated that as far as discussions with unselected candidates go, he now regards himself as in purdah.
Tim wrote back in October that he wanted to see the shortlists drawn up by Eric Pickles, and not John Maples. From the grassroots' point of view, it is also reassuring to see Jeremy Middleton involved in the process.
The only other seat apart from Stratford-on-Avon where we know that this new process will apply is Surrey East, where Peter Ainsworth announced his retirement a few days after the rules changed.
Jonathan Isaby