The Conservative A-List, also called Priority List, was a list of

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

candidates drawn up by Conservative Central Office at the behest of

David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...

following his election as party leader in December 2005, aimed as a means of broadening the number of Conservative Members of Parliament, potential peers and MEPs from

minority group The term "minority group" has different meanings, depending on the context. According to common usage, it can be defined simply as a group in society with the least number of individuals, or less than half of a population. Usually a minority g ...

s and women as well as other preferred candidates for candidature. Where the preferred forums for selection were held, at least two members from the list were put to every open primary, and where these were not held the A-list were recommended directly, particularly to the top target seats. Cameron Cutie was a term used for female candidates.

History

In April 2006, a Conservative Party committee on candidates set out to deliver a promise by

to transform the Conservative party at

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

. The committee reduced 500 aspiring politicians on the party's list of approved parliamentary candidates to an "A-list" of between 100 and 150 priority candidates. The result was a list on which more than half of the names were of women. The list included the former ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' actor Adam Rickitt, Zac Goldsmith, the author Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), and Margot James. Amid controversy, the "A-list" approach was endorsed by Michael Portillo, a Conservative MP until 2005, who in 2006 said that Conservative chairmen and activists in seats considered potentially winnable were in the run-up to the 2010 election urged by Conservative Central Office to select candidates from the new A-list and were in many cases included in open primaries, new and preferred open-to-all selection meetings. The 2010 general election saw failures as well as successes for the "A-listers" selected for 'winnable' seats.

Listed

Those on the A-list included the following: (bold marks people elected to Parliament in 2010. Asterisks * are placed after some entries for decoration.) *Amar Ahmed, a GP in Cheshire since 2000 and was National Chairman Conservative Policy Forum, Public Sector and Infrastructure, 2011–2015. * Tariq Ahmad, life peer in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

, 2011–present * Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), MP for

Corby Corby is a town and civil parish in the North Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England, northeast of Northampton. In 2021 it had a population of 68,164. From 1974 to 2021, it was the administrative headquarters of the Borough of ...

, 2010–2012 * Shaun Bailey, children's worker, PPC for

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It ...

2010, candidate for

Mayor of London The mayor of London is the chief executive of the Greater London Authority. The role was created in 2000 after the Greater London devolution referendum in 1998, and was the first directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom. The current ...

, 2021, life peer in the House of Lords, 2023–present * Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, 2010–present * * Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, 2010–present * * Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, 2010–2017 * * James Bethell, a founder of the

Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publisher (popular music), music publishing busin ...

; hereditary peer in the House of Lords, 2018–present * Nick Boles, MP for Grantham and Stamford, 2010–2019 * * Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, 2010–present * Angie Bray, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, 2010–2015 * Steve Brine, MP for

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

, 2010–2024 * Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, 2010–2024 * Dr. David Bull, television presenter, PPC for Brighton Pavilion, 2010; Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020 * Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, 2010–2024 * * Georgina Butler, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Costa Rica * Martin Callanan, MEP for North East England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2014–present * Joanne Cash, barrister, PPC for Westminster North 2010 * Pamela Chesters London Assembly Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities * Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, 2010–2024 * * Tim Collins, former MP * Charles Crawford, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Poland * Iain Dale, blogger * Caroline Dinenage, MP for

Gosport Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hampshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 70,131 and the district had a pop ...

, 2010–present * Jane Ellison, MP for Battersea, 2010–2017 * Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Entrepreneur of the Year — the Black Enterprise Awards 2005, PPC Chippenham 2010 * Howard Flight, former MP, life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present * Vicky Ford, MEP for East of England, MP for

Chelmsford Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...

, 2017–2024 * * Jacqueline Foster, MEP for North West England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present * George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, 2010–present * *David Gold, PPC for Eltham 2010 * Zac Goldsmith, MP for

Richmond Park Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of Royal Parks of London, London's Royal Parks and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I of England, Cha ...

, 2010–2016, 2017–2019, life peer in the House of Lords, 2020–present * Francois Gordon, former High Commissioner to Uganda * Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, 2010–2024; MP for Maidstone and Malling, 2024–present * Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton, 2010–2019 * * Sam Gyimah, MP for East Surrey, 2010–2019 * * Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, 2010–present * * Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, 2010–2024 * Margot James, MP for

Stourbridge Stourbridge () is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Situated on the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour, the town lies around west of Birmingham, at the southwester ...

, 2010–2019 * Syed Kamall, MEP for

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present * Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, 2010–2024 * * Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire, 2010–2024 * * Dr. Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, 2010–2019 * * Brandon Lewis, MP for

Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth ( ), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside resort, seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, m ...

, 2010–2024 *

Group Captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

Al Lockwood * Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, 2010–2024 * Kit Malthouse, Member of the London Assembly, MP for North West Hampshire 2015–present * Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North, 2010–2024 * Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk and Malton, 2010–2015 *

Esther McVey Esther Louise, Lady Davies (born 24 October 1967), styled as Esther McVey, is a British Conservative Party politician and television presenter who has been serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tatton since 2017, and served as the M ...

, MP for Wirral West, 2010–2015 and Tatton, 2017–present * Mark Menzies, MP for Fylde, 2010–2024 * * Priti Patel,Robin Brant
A year on, has the A-list worked?
at BBC.co.uk dated December 2006 MP for Witham, 2010–present * * Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby, 2010–2024 * Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, 2010–2024 * Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment, life peer in the House of Lords since 2023 * Annunziata Rees-Mogg, journalist, PPC for Somerton and Frome, 2010, Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020 * Adam Rickitt, actor and singer * Caroline Righton, presenter, PPC for St Austell and Newquay, 2010 *Murad Roberts, Member of the Society of Conservative Lawyers, 2015 * Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, 2010–2019 * Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet South, 2010–2015 * Jane Scott, Leader of

Wiltshire Council Wiltshire Council, known between 1889 and 2009 as Wiltshire County Council, is the Local government in England, local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Wiltshire (district), Wiltshire in South West England, and has its headquarters a ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present * Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe, 2010–2019 * Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, 2010–2024 * Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, 2010–present * * Philippa Stroud, Director of the Centre for Social Justice, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present *

Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...

, MP for South West Norfolk, 2010–2024;

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister Advice (constitutional law), advises the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign on the exercise of much of the Royal prerogative ...

, September–October 2022 * Sayeeda Warsi, life peer in the House of Lords, 2007–present * Heather Wheeler, MP for

South Derbyshire South Derbyshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Derbyshire, England. The district covers the towns of Melbourne, Derbyshire, Melbourne and Swadlincote as well as numerous villages and hamlets such as Hilton, Derbys ...

, 2010–2024 * Susan Williams, life peer in the House of Lords, 2013–present

Notes and references

Notes

References

{{David Cameron History of the Conservative Party (UK) David Cameron Organisation of the Conservative Party (UK)