Tory chairman Grant Shapps today poured cold water on speculation that a sports star or TV celebrity will be parachuted in as MP for Kensington.
After feverish gossip in Conservative Party circles and the media, he signalled to the Standard that the shortlist will be picked from the list of approved candidates.
His words will cool media reports that stars such as footballer Frank Lampard, TV historian Dan Snow and former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman are in the frame.
“As chairman I’ve set out to find Conservative candidates who work hard and truly represent Britain,” said Mr Shapps. “In terms of Kensington, we are advertising to the full list of prospective Conservative candidates.”
David Cameron is understood to be keen for a high-flying woman to get the seat, which is up for grabs following Sir Malcolm Rifkind’s resignation over a “cash for access” scandal. It is seen as a perfect base for a Cabinet career.
His favourites are believed to be his adviser on women’s affairs at No 10, Laura Trott, and Suella Fernandes, a lawyer who has been pipped in the final of several selection contests.
Chancellor George Osborne is said to back George Bridges, a former Conservative Party campaign director and a friend and contemporary of him and the Prime Minister.
However, it is seen as too controversial to parachute in an Etonian whose great-great-grandfather was poet laureate Robert Bridges.
A strong candidate is said to be Kensington councillor Mary Weale, cabinet member for adult social care. She declined to comment. Boris Johnson’s deputy mayor Victoria Borwick, a Kensington resident, announced her bid for selection in yesterday’s Standard.
