ELECTION 2019: ONES TO WATCH

CONSERVATIVE

DANNY KRUGER ANDREW GRIFFITH Current No 10 aide Danny Kruger is It is surprisingly rare for Chief Financial likely to be a vital ally for Boris Johnson Officers of FTSE companies to make it in the next Parliament after he was in politics, but that may well be about to chosen to succeed former Energy change with the selection in a safe seat Minister and COP26 President Claire of Sky’s Andrew Griffith. Instrumental Perry as Tory candidate for Devizes. over many years in building up the The son of Great British Bake Off star broadcaster, Griffith always remained Prue Leith, Kruger is a long-time fixture interested in Conservative politics, and in Conservative politics, having been a has been close to the PM for a while – he speechwriter to David Cameron. He has lent his Westminster house to Team Constituency: more recently built a name for himself Constituency: Johnson during the Tory leadership race. Devizes in the voluntary sector, founding the Arundel and South Once that was over, Johnson appointed Current incumbent: rehabilitation charity Only Connect. Downs Griffith as Chief Business Adviser Insiders describe him variously as “a at Number 10. “There is no doubting Claire Perry (Con) Current incumbent: big thinker” and “a new Oliver Letwin” – Andrew’s inner steel, and he has robust (retiring) though perhaps, some might say, with a Nick Herbert (Con) Conservative views – but he is charming Majority: sharper eye for political considerations. (retiring) too, and he knows the importance of 21,136 (41.7%) Majority: listening,” says someone who’s worked closely with Griffith over the years. He 23,883 (39.7%) also brings expertise in the food and drink sector, having served for five years as a Non-Executive Director of Just Eat.

JAMES WILD LAURA TROTT Also likely to be moving from Number Taking over from Wild’s old boss 10 to Parliament will be the PM’s Michael Fallon as Conservative Deputy Chief of Staff, James Wild, who candidate for Sevenoaks is former has been selected as the Tory candidate David Cameron adviser Laura Trott. in North West Norfolk. An alumnus Having run the ex-PM’s media grid, of Hanover, Wild is a veteran aide to she more recently worked as a senior Conservatives, including former communications consultant and served Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington as a member of Camden Council, where and ex-Defence Secretary Michael she’s said to have learned valuable Fallon. He has extensive experience lessons operating in a Labour-run Constituency: in the business world, having worked Constituency: environment. Trott is praised by Norfolk North West at T-Mobile before joining Hanover. Sevenoaks Conservative operatives for building Current incumbent: A committed Brexiteer (in contrast to Current incumbent: relationships, attaching herself to some of his previous bosses), his spouse prominent issues and developing a Sir Henry Sir Michael Fallon is the Leader of the House of Lords, wealth of national and local experience. Bellingham (Con) Natalie Evans. One Tory comments (Con) (retiring) “I expect her Westminster career to hit (retiring) that they could become “the new Yvette Majority: the ground running,” says one of those Majority: Cooper and Ed Balls”, both of whom 21,917 (42.8%) impressed by her. “She’s got this striking held major frontbench posts in Labour’s ability to remain cool under pressure 13,788 (28.2%) pre-Corbyn era. and quietly build whatever expertise she needs.”

GARETH DAVIES SAQIB BHATTI In the running to become MP for Succeeding the veteran Conservative Margaret Thatcher’s birthplace of MP Caroline Spelman in the West Grantham and Stamford is Gareth Midlands constituency of Meriden is Davies. An asset manager at Columbia Saqib Bhatti, a 34-year old accountant Threadneedle Investments, he helped and the youngest President of the set up the firm’s ethical investment Greater Birmingham Chamber of fund. Yorkshire-born and state- Commerce in its history. Bhatti has educated, Davies has also worked on been a key figure in many of the city’s government taskforces, specialising other business organisations, including in the ‘mainstreaming’ of social the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Constituency: investment. He is no stranger to the Constituency: Enterprise Partnership, and has been Grantham and campaign trail, having contested safe Meriden praised for his work with education and Stamford Labour seats and served on the Party’s Current incumbent: development charities in Pakistan. The National Economic Policy Taskforce. 34-year old was granted an honorary Current incumbent: Dame Caroline Seen as smart and engaging, he is degree by Aston University earlier this Nick Boles regarded by insiders as understanding Spelman (Con) year for work to promote the West (retiring, departed both economic realities and the need to (retiring) Midlands in trade and business. He Conservatives to sit do more to fix inequality. “There’s every Majority: describes the Birmingham area as the expectation he will be a key member home of the “Great British Dream”. as independent) 19,198 (35.1%) of a Cabinet of the future”, says one Majority: Conservative veteran. 20,094 (35.5%) (as Con)

LABOUR

FLORENCE ESHALOMI JAMES MURRAY Among the first candidates selected on Also standing in London for the first the Labour side was Florence Eshalomi, time is James Murray, who takes over who succeeds arch-Brexiteer Kate Hoey from the veteran MP Stephen Pound in the south London seat of Vauxhall. in the safe seat of Ealing North. Having Unlike her predecessor, the London served as Sadiq Khan’s Deputy Mayor Assembly member is very much in step for Housing, Murray has been praised for with her pro-Remain voters, and is said the way he’s dealt with a Conservative to have impressed local party members government, managing to secure extra with a passionate account of her life funds from Whitehall for social housing story, from growing up on a council in the capital. A former Islington Constituency: estate to serving on the Assembly. Constituency: councillor, he built a relationship with Vauxhall Praised by Labour figures for reaching Ealing North Jeremy Corbyn during his time in the Current incumbent: across the aisle in the Assembly to solve Current incumbent: borough but is identified with the ‘soft problems – and personally acquainted left’ of Labour and well-liked across the Kate Hoey (Lab) Stephen Pound with many families in her constituency party. While set to be influential in the (retiring) - Eshalomi is expected to be among the (Lab) (retiring) debate on housing and broader local Majority: leading faces on the moderate wing of Majority: government issues, Hanover Labour 20,250 (36.7%) the Parliamentary Labour Party for 19,693 (37.5%) experts also expect him to be a key years to come. player in any revival of the soft left’s fortunes should Corbyn step down.

SAM TARRY SARAH OWEN Who has Labour selected to try to wrest Does earning your spurs by working Ilford South from veteran Labour for The Apprentice’s Alan Sugar mark moderate Mike Gapes, who’s defected you out for likely front-rank political to Change UK and will try to take the success? Those familiar with Sarah seat with him? Step forward Sam Tarry, Owen – who worked as one of a team a full-on member of the left, and one helping Lord Sugar probe into SMEs with a notable track record of success. several years ago – think so, even He can take some of the credit for though they warn against over-stating helping Momentum rise to become her own interactions with the famously the dominant faction operating inside brusque peer. They rate her as “one to Constituency: Labour. And, after the 2010 election, he Constituency: watch” because of her wider experience, Ilford South was one of those who supported Ed Luton North including her recent work as a political Current incumbent: Miliband’s successful leadership bid. Current incumbent: officer for the GMB union and her Tarry currently serves as an official at previous work in policy development Mike Gapes (plans Kelvin Hopkins (Ind) the transport union TSSA under the and business engagement while at to run for Change pro-Corbyn but strongly pro-Remain Majority: Labour HQ. “Her CV gives her a sought- UK) Manuel Cortes. Before the advance 14,364 (30.8%) (as after blend of dealing with big figures Majority: of Momentum, Tarry initially came to Lab) in corporate life and in trade union life,” prominence as an organiser in the anti- says one of those who rate her. 31,647 (54.9%) (as racism group Hope not Hate. Lab)

FAIZA SHAHEEN Among the candidates contesting more marginal seats for Labour, left- wing economist and media-friendly campaigner Faiza Shaheen was selected last year to take on Iain Duncan Smith in Chingford and Woodford Green. A Chingford local, Shaheen heads up the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS), a think tank that has built a wealth of policy detail contributing to Constituency: ‘Corbynomics’. Shaheen is well-liked Chingford and across Labour’s soft left and has strong Wood Green links to left-wing MPs, trade unionists and political columnists. IDS’s majority Current incumbent: has shrunk at the last two elections and Iain Duncan Smith the Greens have stood aside to support (Con) Shaheen’s bid. Majority: 2,438 (5.2%)

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

MUNIRA WILSON For years, Twickenham has been Key to any Lib Dem revival is the represented by one of the Lib Dems’ pro-Remain, London commuter belt undoubted stars, former leader Vince seat of St Albans, where Daisy Cooper Cable. So who has the local party is standing for the party against Tory chosen to succeed him? Refreshingly incumbent and Brexit supporter Anne for business, someone who knows Main. A political campaigner by trade, how big companies and important Cooper’s most recent role was with industries work: Munira Wilson, who the group, where she led handled a range of issues for pharma campaigns to reform immigration rules. giants Merck and Novartis earlier in her She also worked at the Hacked Off Constituency: career. Her posts handling corporate Constituency: group, where she helped to spearhead Twickenham and government affairs saw her focus St Albans campaigns on privacy and press issues, Current incumbent: on matters ranging from Industrial Current incumbent: dealing in an accomplished fashion Strategy and R&D to Brexit. with supporters from different parties Sir (Lib Anne Main (Con) and factoring in the high-octane PR Dem) Majority: potential of outspoken celebrity backers. Majority: 6,109 (10.7%) – Lib Lib Dem watchers at Hanover describe 9,762 (14.8%) Dems 2nd place in her as a campaign veteran who has straddled both right and left of the 2017 party, while already drawing favourable comparisons to Jo Swinson. SNP

ALYN SMITH Looking to help the SNP re-establish its hegemony north of the border is Alyn Smith MEP, who will go up against Conservative MP Stephen Kerr in Stirling. Smith shot to fame in the aftermath of the EU referendum in 2016 with a viral speech to the European Parliament, during which he urged EU nations not to “let Scotland down”. He has since been among the Constituency: most prominent members of the UK Stirling delegation in Brussels and Strasbourg. Current incumbent: Described by SNP sources as highly ambitious, Smith began his working Stephen Kerr (Con) life by battling through the famously Majority: demanding selection process to join 148 (0.3%), SNP 2nd legal services behemoth Clifford place in 2017 Chance and start his career as a lawyer.