Seb Payne’s political ambitions faced yet another setback over the weekend, as he came second in the race to represent the safe Tory seat of Bromsgrove. Seb, who described himself as a “part-time Michael Gove stunt double”, can take some positives from his defeat in the Battle of Bromsgrove. Insiders say he performed well and came across as credible in a very tightly fought race – with the winner being decided on a “razor-fine” margin. Winner, Bradley Thomas’s local links gave him the edge.
There was some discontent in the association, as reported by Michael Crick, as a ‘refer back motion’ to restart the selection was proposed – though eventually defeated. Over the weekend another Westminster insider did get one step closer to the green benches, as Nick Timothy won selection in Matt Hancock’s West Suffolk seat. Guido’s heart bleeds for Neil Hudson…
The selection process for the seat of Bromsgrove, currently occupied by Sajid Javid, is well underway. As a rare Tory safe seat, even on current polls, the competition has been fierce. One cause for conflict was the fact that a leading front-runner, former MP Paul Uppal, was also the Association Chair responsible for running the contest. Paul gave a strong non-denial when Guido asked about his candidacy last month.
Since then, the process has been delayed (and restarted), a new Association Chair has been selected and a long-list drawn up. Amongst those on the list are Paul Uppal and Neil Shastri-Hurst, whilst Michael Crick reports Birmingham Tory Bobby Alden is also in the running. Though one name in particular will stick out to SW1-based readers: Seb Payne has made the cut following his payneful night in Selby. Onward and upward…
Guido hears Sebastian Payne failed to make the cut for the final shortlist for the Tory candidacy up in Selby and Ainsty. The interviews were held last night and Seb was eliminated before the last three. Given it’s a heavily pro-Brexit seat up in the red wall, it was probably an uphill battle for Payne anyway. The final shortlist is Andrew Lee, Michael Naughton and Zak Khan. Onwards for Seb…
Seb Payne has confirmed what most of SW1 suspected: he’s applied to stand as a Tory candidate at the next election. Having handed back his Lobby pass at the end of last year to join Onward, Payne has now been shortlisted for Selby and Ainsty up near Leeds. The seat currently held by Nigel Adams, who’s standing down…
When Payne first joined wonk world, his evasive answers to Iain Dale over his long-term plans didn’t go unnoticed. His job at Onward certainly means he’s rubbing shoulders with the right people in Tory circles. If he gets selected in Selby and Ainsty, UK Polling Report forecast he’ll likely join the green benches in 2024…
No Payne, No Gain Hold…
UPDATE: Guido’s told the shortlist is down to around 6 or 7 candidates. Local sources say the other leading names are Andrew Lee, Sam Richards and Hannah Galley. Lee is the local association’s current treasurer and is a North Yorkshire councillor. Richards is a former Number 10 policy unit SpAd, currently the CEO of Britain Remade. Galley is a senior consultant at Portland Communications. Lee is supposedly the one to beat, given his grassroots support…
Gets a few digs into Boris too:
“I’ve only been Prime Minister for six months, but I do believe we are making good progress. If you think about where were were then, and where we are now. Our economy is in much better shape. Our politics doesn’t feel like a box set drama anymore, and our friends and our allies know that we are back…”
Times Radio’s Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher is jumping ship to the Financial Times, where she’ll succeed Seb Payne as the paper’s Whitehall Editor. Payne left the FT in December to join Onward. Fisher is a known face in SW1; she was previously deputy political editor at the Telegraph, and at the Times before that.
Speaking this morning, Fisher said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the FT, a newspaper I have long admired as a reader. I can’t wait to get stuck into this exciting role at such a pivotal time in British politics, and I look forward to working with George Parker and the outstanding Westminster reporting team.”
The FT say she’ll have “a particular focus on the Conservative party and foreign policy.” She’ll also write a monthly column. Congratulations…
