Following the resignation of Lisa Francis for family reasons, Simon Baynes has been selected to stand as Conservative candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
Simon is leader of the Conservative Group on neighbouring Powys County Council and a deputy chairman of the Welsh Conservatives. He contested Montgomeryshire at the 2005 general election. Read more about him on his website.
He said on his selection:
"It is a great honour to be selected as the Welsh Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd. I have known this beautiful constituency for most of my life, having grown up at Lake Vyrnwy where my family used to run the Hotel. As the County Councillor for the neighbouring area of Llanwddyn, Llangynog and Penybontfawr, I have first-hand experience of many of the issues affecting Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Mid-Wales.
"I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Lisa Francis, who had to retire as our Candidate for family reasons. I much look forward to putting across the Welsh Conservative case with energy and enthusiasm in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, particularly opposing Gwynedd Council's schools closure programme".
The newly-drawn constiruency - taking in parts of the existing Meirionnydd Nant Conwy and Caernarfon constituencies - is notionally held by Plaid Cymru with a majority of 8,706 over Labour, with the Conservatives in third place.
Jonathan Isaby