Conservative A-List
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "other uses". Template:David Cameron sidebar Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English The Conservative A-List, also called Priority List, was a list of United Kingdom candidates drawn up by Conservative Central Office at the behest of David Cameron following his election as party leader in December 2005, aimed as a means of broadening the number of Conservative Members of Parliament, potential peers and MEPs from minority groups and women as well as other preferred candidates for candidature. Where the preferred forums for selection were held, at least two members from the list were put to every open primary, and where these were not held the A-list were recommended directly, particularly to the top target seats.
Cameron Cutie was a term used for female candidates.[1]
History
In April 2006, a Conservative Party committee on candidates set out to deliver a promise by David Cameron to transform the Conservative party at Westminster. The committee reduced 500 aspiring politicians on the party's list of approved parliamentary candidates to an "A-list" of between 100 and 150 priority candidates.[2] The result was a list on which more than half of the names were of women. The list included the former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt, Zac Goldsmith, the author Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), and Margot James.[3]
Amid controversy, the "A-list" approach was endorsed by Michael Portillo, a Conservative MP until 2005, who in 2006 said that <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
[based on current membership]...much of the Parliamentary Party is reactionary and unattractive to voters.[4]
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Conservative chairmen and activists in seats considered potentially winnable were in the run-up to the 2010 election urged by Conservative Central Office to select candidates from the new A-list and were in many cases included in open primaries, new and preferred open-to-all selection meetings.[5]
The 2010 general election saw failures as well as successes for the "A-listers" selected for 'winnable' seats.[6]
Listed
Those on the A-list included the following: (bold marks people elected to Parliament in 2010.[7][8][9] Asterisks * are placed after some entries for decoration.)
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- Amar Ahmed, a GP in Cheshire since 2000 and was National Chairman Conservative Policy Forum, Public Sector and Infrastructure, 2011–2015.
- Tariq Ahmad,Template:Refn life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present
- Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), MP for Corby, 2010–2012
- Shaun Bailey, children's worker, PPC for Hammersmith 2010, candidate for Mayor of London, 2021, life peer in the House of Lords, 2023–present
- Harriett Baldwin,Template:Refn MP for West Worcestershire, 2010–present *
- Steve Barclay,Template:Refn MP for North East Cambridgeshire, 2010–present *
- Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, 2010–2017 *
- James Bethell,Template:Refn a founder of the Ministry of Sound; hereditary peer in the House of Lords, 2018–present
- Nick Boles,Template:Refn MP for Grantham and Stamford, 2010–2019 *
- Karen Bradley,Template:Refn MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, 2010–present
- Angie Bray,Template:Refn MP for Ealing Central and Acton, 2010–2015
- Steve Brine, MP for Winchester, 2010–2024
- Fiona Bruce,Template:Refn MP for Congleton, 2010–2024
- Dr. David Bull, television presenter, PPC for Brighton Pavilion, 2010; Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020
- Conor Burns,Template:Refn MP for Bournemouth West, 2010–2024 *
- Georgina Butler, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Costa Rica
- Martin Callanan, MEP for North East England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2014–present
- Joanne Cash, barrister, PPC for Westminster North 2010
- Pamela ChestersTemplate:Refn London Assembly Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities
- Damian Collins,Template:Refn MP for Folkestone and Hythe, 2010–2024 *
- Tim Collins,Template:Refn former MP
- Charles Crawford, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Poland
- Iain Dale,Template:Refn blogger
- Caroline Dinenage,Template:Refn MP for Gosport, 2010–present
- Jane Ellison,Template:Refn MP for Battersea, 2010–2017
- Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Entrepreneur of the Year — the Black Enterprise Awards 2005, PPC Chippenham 2010
- Howard Flight, former MP, life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present
- Vicky Ford, MEP for East of England, MP for Chelmsford, 2017–2024 *
- Jacqueline Foster, MEP for North West England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present
- George Freeman,Template:Refn MP for Mid Norfolk, 2010–present *
- David Gold,Template:Refn PPC for Eltham 2010
- Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, 2010–2016, 2017–2019, life peer in the House of Lords, 2020–present
- Francois Gordon, former High Commissioner to Uganda
- Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, 2010–2024; MP for Maidstone and Malling, 2024–present
- Andrew Griffiths,Template:Refn MP for Burton, 2010–2019 *
- Sam Gyimah, MP for East Surrey, 2010–2019 *
- Rebecca Harris,Template:Refn MP for Castle Point, 2010–present *
- Chris Heaton-Harris,Template:Refn MP for Daventry, 2010–2024
- Margot James,Template:Refn MP for Stourbridge, 2010–2019
- Syed Kamall, MEP for London, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present
- Pauline Latham,Template:Refn MP for Mid Derbyshire, 2010–2024 *
- Andrea Leadsom,Template:Refn MP for South Northamptonshire, 2010–2024 *
- Dr. Phillip Lee,Template:Refn MP for Bracknell, 2010–2019 *
- Brandon Lewis,Template:Refn MP for Great Yarmouth, 2010–2024
- Group Captain Al LockwoodTemplate:Refn
- Jack Lopresti,Template:Refn MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, 2010–2024
- Kit Malthouse,Template:Refn Member of the London Assembly, MP for North West Hampshire 2015–present
- Paul Maynard,Template:Refn MP for Blackpool North, 2010–2024
- Anne McIntosh,Template:Refn MP for Thirsk and Malton, 2010–2015
- Esther McVey,Template:Refn MP for Wirral West, 2010–2015 and Tatton, 2017–present
- Mark Menzies,Template:Refn MP for Fylde, 2010–2024 *
- Priti Patel,[10]Template:Refn MP for Witham, 2010–present *
- Mark Pawsey,Template:Refn MP for Rugby, 2010–2024
- Andrew Percy,Template:Refn MP for Brigg and Goole, 2010–2024
- Kulveer Ranger,Template:Refn Director of Environment, life peer in the House of Lords since 2023
- Annunziata Rees-Mogg,Template:Refn journalist, PPC for Somerton and Frome, 2010, Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020
- Adam Rickitt, actor and singer[11]
- Caroline Righton, presenter, PPC for St Austell and Newquay, 2010
- Amber Rudd,Template:Refn MP for Hastings and Rye, 2010–2019
- Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet South, 2010–2015
- Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire Council, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present
- Anna Soubry,Template:Refn MP for Broxtowe, 2010–2019
- Andrew Stephenson,Template:Refn MP for Pendle, 2010–2024
- Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, 2010–present *
- Philippa Stroud, Template:Refn Director of the Centre for Social Justice, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present
- Liz Truss,Template:Refn MP for South West Norfolk, 2010–2024; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, September–October 2022
- Sayeeda Warsi,Template:Refn life peer in the House of Lords, 2007–present
- Heather Wheeler,Template:Refn MP for South Derbyshire, 2010–2024
- Susan Williams,Template:Refn life peer in the House of Lords, 2013–present
Notes and references
Notes
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References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Will Woodward and Tania Branigan, "The A-list: new leader's drive for women and minority candidates" in The Guardian, 19 April 2006
- ↑ Will Woodward, chief political correspondent, "Former soap star on Cameron's A-list of Tory candidates" in The Guardian, 11 May 2006
- ↑ Michael Portillo, Cameron's A-list could give Tories the X factorScript error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore in The Sunday Times dated 30 July 2006, online
- ↑ A-list 'not snubbing' NE England dated 20 October 2006 at bbc.co.uk
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Rosemary Bennett, "The A-list"Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore in The Times dated 12 June 2006, at timesonline.co.uk
- ↑ Who is on the A-list? at conservativehome web site
- ↑ Conservative A-List and selections Template:Webarchive dated 4 June 2006 at colin-ross.org.uk
- ↑ Robin Brant, A year on, has the A-list worked? at BBC.co.uk dated December 2006
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/18/broadcasting.conservativeparty
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