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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| New Tory candidate to be revealed | New Tory candidate to be revealed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Tories will announce their next Parliamentary candidate for Totnes later, after polling all 69,000 voters in the Devon constituency. | The Tories will announce their next Parliamentary candidate for Totnes later, after polling all 69,000 voters in the Devon constituency. |
| It is the first time a British party has conducted a postal ballot of all voters - regardless of party membership - to select a prospective MP. | It is the first time a British party has conducted a postal ballot of all voters - regardless of party membership - to select a prospective MP. |
| Totnes MP Anthony Steen is stepping down at the next general election after a row about his expenses. | Totnes MP Anthony Steen is stepping down at the next general election after a row about his expenses. |
| Sara Randall-Johnson, Nick Bye and Dr Sarah Wollaston made the shortlist. | Sara Randall-Johnson, Nick Bye and Dr Sarah Wollaston made the shortlist. |
| A result is expected around 1230 BST. | A result is expected around 1230 BST. |
| Turnout hopes | Turnout hopes |
| The nature of the contest means people who belong to different political parties can take part in the selection process. | |
| The Tories have held open primary contests before in which non-members have been invited to take part in public meetings. | The Tories have held open primary contests before in which non-members have been invited to take part in public meetings. |
| But this time the party has gone a step further and sent out ballot papers by post to all registered voters and a freepost envelope. | But this time the party has gone a step further and sent out ballot papers by post to all registered voters and a freepost envelope. |
| Mr Steen has been an MP in Devon since 1983 | |
| BBC Newsnight's political editor Michael Crick said the exercise must have cost the party about £40,000, so it will be hoping for a much larger turnout than the several hundred party members who would attend a traditional selection meeting. | BBC Newsnight's political editor Michael Crick said the exercise must have cost the party about £40,000, so it will be hoping for a much larger turnout than the several hundred party members who would attend a traditional selection meeting. |
| Party chairman Eric Pickles has said a 15% turnout, about 10,000 voters, would be considered a good turnout. | Party chairman Eric Pickles has said a 15% turnout, about 10,000 voters, would be considered a good turnout. |
| Chagford GP Dr Sarah Wollaston, East Devon District Council leader Sara Randall-Johnson and Torbay Mayor Nick Bye will all have passed preliminary vetting by Conservative Central Office. | Chagford GP Dr Sarah Wollaston, East Devon District Council leader Sara Randall-Johnson and Torbay Mayor Nick Bye will all have passed preliminary vetting by Conservative Central Office. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the process was "the first time any political party in Britain has sought the views of the voters in such a direct way". | Conservative leader David Cameron said the process was "the first time any political party in Britain has sought the views of the voters in such a direct way". |
| Retiring MP Anthony Steen stepped down after details of his expenses claims over four years were published in the Daily Telegraph. | Retiring MP Anthony Steen stepped down after details of his expenses claims over four years were published in the Daily Telegraph. |
| The newspaper said he claimed £87,000 over four years for his country home, including paying a forestry expert to inspect his trees. | The newspaper said he claimed £87,000 over four years for his country home, including paying a forestry expert to inspect his trees. |
| Later he was reprimanded by party leader David Cameron over an interview with the BBC in which he said people were jealous of his "very very large house". | Later he was reprimanded by party leader David Cameron over an interview with the BBC in which he said people were jealous of his "very very large house". |
| He later apologised, saying he had been "deeply upset" at the time of the interview and had overreacted in the "heat of the moment". | He later apologised, saying he had been "deeply upset" at the time of the interview and had overreacted in the "heat of the moment". |
| Mr Steen has been an MP in south Devon since 1983, first for South Hams and then for Totnes when the seat was created in 1997. | Mr Steen has been an MP in south Devon since 1983, first for South Hams and then for Totnes when the seat was created in 1997. |
| At the 2005 general election he won with majority of 1,947 over the Liberal Democrat candidate. | At the 2005 general election he won with majority of 1,947 over the Liberal Democrat candidate. |