The Tory candidate earmarked to succeed Sir Sydney Chapman as MP for Chipping Barnet will be chosen in March.

Sir Sydney announced last month that he will stand down at the next general election, after 24 years as Chipping Barnet MP. The Tories had imposed a ban on selection of general election candidates before the local elections in May, but Chipping Barnet won an exemption from Conservative Party chairman Theresa May. She has invited Barnet Conservatives to meet at central office this week to draw up a two-week timetable for the process.

Stephen Payne, executive director of Barnet Conservatives, said: "The ban did not necessarily apply in circumstances where people had already announced they were going. We had to make a case to hold it sooner rather than later. We are relieved because we now know where we are going and can plan our fund-raising events around it."

Keen contenders for the Chipping Barnet nomination include Greater London's Member of European Parliament Theresa Villiers, Camden councillor Sheila Gunn and Barnet councillor Katia David. Former Edmonton MP Dr Ian Twin and Barnet councillor Lynne Hillan are also considering whether to stand.

When a date is set, a list of more than 300 hopeful candidates from around the country will be invited to send in applications. Several of these will be selected for interview by committee and three or four chosen to stand for election by conservative group members in Barnet.

January 30, 2003 15:00