Tories choose their General Election candidate – but not without whiff of controversy
By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter
Tim Barnes has been chosen as the Conservative candidate to fight for the Cities of London and Westminster constituency at the next general election, replacing incumbent Nickie Aiken MP.
In February, Ms Aiken announced she would step down at the next election, sparking a race to replace her.
Mr Barnes, a former Westminster City councillor who lost a re-election in 2022, won the party’s nomination following two rounds of balloting of local party members on Sunday.
It is understood that Mr Barnes faced lawyer and former Vauxhall Conservative candidate Sarah Bool and Jamie Ndoku-Goodwin, a former advisor to Matt Hancock.
It is believed that under local party rules, a candidate must secure a clear majority of 50 per cent or more of the vote to clinch the nomination.
It comes after London Tories claimed the selection process had been “tainted” and called for a re-run.
They expressed concern over the association chairman’s influence over the process after it was alleged three of the longlisted candidates of the seat were paid clients of a political advisory where Thomas Borwick is a director and listed as a person with significant control.
They claimed one of the candidates who applied for the seat was Mr Borwick’s mother, former Kensington MP Victoria Borwick.
It is understood that Mr Borwick recused himself from the weekend’s meetings, which were then chaired by Theresa May’s husband, Philip May.
Mr Borwick has been contacted for comment. CCHQ was contacted for comment but said it did not comment on internal matters.
Insiders have revealed the candidates on the longlist had been Mr Barnes, along with Sanjoy Sen, Jonathan Clamp, Jessica Stewart, Alex Challoner, Sarah Bool, Jamie Ndoku-Goodwin and Jamie Wallace.
Pictured top: Mr Barnes in the centre, with Tory supporters (Picture: CLWLCA)
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