Express & Star

Conservatives choose new candidate for Aldridge-Brownhills

The Conservatives have tonight selected a candidate to try to hold on to the safe seat of Aldridge-Brownhills at the General Election.

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Wendy Morton was chosen to replace Sir Richard Shepherd who will stand down after 36 years representing the constituency.

The seat is considered a safe one for the Tories who have a majority of 15,256 votes.

Mrs Morton is a small business owner and vice chairman of the Conservative party. She began her career in the diplomatic service.

The selection in Aldridge-Brownhills had to be delayed after one of the shortlisted candidates, Nick Timothy, was banned from standing because he had not taken part in telephone canvassing for the party during the Rochester and Strood by-election, which the Tories lost to UKIP.

Mr Timothy is a special adviser to Home Secretary Theresa May and had argued his role meant he was bound by a code of conduct barring him from campaigning. There was also confusion after the association in Aldridge was told he had withdrawn, when in fact he had been suspended from the process.

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