Canterbury Conservatives have kick-started their hunt for a new Parliamentary candidate – after getting fed up of waiting for party bosses to begin the process.

KentOnline can reveal that more than 100 people have expressed interest in becoming the constituency’s Westminster representative, following the shock defeat of long-serving Sir Julian Brazier.

Rosie Duffield became Canterbury’s first ever Labour MP in the 2017 General Election, with a knife-edge majority of 187 (0.3%).

But the seat is clearly still hotly sought-after by prospective Conservative candidates.

City council leader Simon Cook is understood not to have put his name forward - nor has Sir Julian.

The former MP said: "I've got no plans to run again.

"I'm going to support the association in finding a new candidate".

Normally the start of the selection process is announced by the Conservative Party’s central office (CCHQ).

But the local Tory group passed a motion “by a huge majority” at a special general meeting held on Wednesday night (April 24) to open the candidates list.

Chairman Greig Baker said: “We have been asking central office for some time to start the process. We will give notice to Central office of that motion and hope that will encourage them to open the process in the normal way.

“We are hoping to work with the central party – and we want people from the approved party list.

“Having passed the motion, they will understand the level of feeling locally that we need a candidate and to get on with it.”

CCHQ may have delayed selecting a new candidate due to recommendations put forward by the Boundary Commission to create a new seat of Canterbury and Faversham.

If approved by MPs, the proposals would see Conservative MP Helen Whately’s Faversham and Mid Kent seat disappear completely.

This would potentially leave rising Tory star Ms Whately, recently promoted to deputy party chairman, to fight Ms Duffield for the new seat.

Former Conservative councillor Joe Egerton, now running as an independent, said: "If they select a candidate and the boundary changes go through, this would kmill Helen's chances.

"She wouldn't likely try to stand for Canterbury and Faversham."

But Mr Baker said: “I think we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

“One of the nice things for is not only the high calibre of candidates but also the terrific local MPs that could take the seat on. I think Helen’s great.”

Local members at the meeting also endorsed Mr Baker’s position regarding a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Theresa May.

Mr Baker said: “The party membership feel she has lost their trust.

“We have got a terrific line up of local council candidates and it’s not fair for them to get it in the neck.

“We want people to know there is a very distinct difference between what’s happening nationally and the local party.”

The Conservatives have 28 out of 39 seats on Canterbury City Council.

But Mr Baker said: “We take nothing for granted.”

Mr Baker added that party membership locally had doubled but said he couldn’t reveal figures “due to data protection laws”.

CCHQ has been approached for comment.

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