Monday, November 20, 2006

Who should be Chatham & Aylesford's next Member of Parliament ?

The Conservative Party is changing - and one of those changes is in the way we select our candidates.

Until now, our candidates, (like those from other parties), were interviewed and selected by party members. We realise, however, that a future MP needs the support of the wider community. That is why we have changed the way we are doing things.

On Thursday 30th November you are invited to attend a meeting that will select the Conservative candidate for the next General Election here in Chatham & Aylesford Constituency. The meeting will start at 7pm at Lordswood Leisure Centre, North Dane Way, Chatham, ME5 8YE. For map click HERE.

The story so far:
Hundreds of approved candidates have been notified that we are looking for a candidate to fight the General Election. Those interested have submitted their CV's and a shortlist of 11 has been compiled. Over the next two weeks a series of interviews will whittle these initial 11 applicants down to a shortlist of 3.

The Final Meeting:
On Thursday 30th November the final 3 candidates will present themselves to a public meeting. Each of the candidates will make a short presentation and will be professionally interviewed by an impartial moderator. Members of the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions if they wish.

The Vote:
Following the interviews a vote (by secret ballot) will be taken. The winning candidate needs 50%+ of the vote to win. If none of the candidates poll 50%+ on the first vote, the third placed candidate will be eliminated and another vote will be held. The winner of the second ballot will be selected as the Conservative Party candidate to fight the next General Election.

Who Can Participate?:
You do not need to be a member of the Conservative Party to attend the meeting and vote. In fact, you don't even have to be a committed Conservative. A Member of Parliament represents the entire constituency regardless of politics and we therefore wish to include the views of as many people as possible in the selection process.

However:
To qualify to attend the meeting and cast a vote you must by 18 years of age or over and be on the Electoral Register for the Chatham & Aylesford Constituency under the new boundaries.

You Must Also Register:
If you wish to attend the meeting you must register by 24th November. To do so, simply send an email to contact@tcconservatives.com. The title of the email should be "REGISTRATION" and you need to include the name, address and telephone number of each person that would like to attend. Alternatively, you can register by post. Send the names and addresses of those people wishing to attend the meeting to:

Chatham & Aylesford Conservative Association
Freepost MA 487
91 High Street
West Malling
Kent
ME19 6NA

Further details about the meeting will be sent to all registered attendees on or about 24th November.
Printed and promoted by A Kennedy on behalf of Burham, Eccles and Wouldham Conservatives, all at 200 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent.