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Widdecombe's successor is chosen Widdecombe's successor is chosen
(40 minutes later)
Conservative party members have chosen the parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald who will succeed Ann Widdecombe.Conservative party members have chosen the parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald who will succeed Ann Widdecombe.
Miss Widdecombe will stand down from the Kent seat at the next general election after 20 years in the post.Miss Widdecombe will stand down from the Kent seat at the next general election after 20 years in the post.
As part of the selection process, nine candidates were grilled by Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You panellist, Ian Hislop.As part of the selection process, nine candidates were grilled by Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You panellist, Ian Hislop.
Helen Grant beat off competition from the eight other hopefuls. Businesswoman Helen Grant beat off competition from the other hopefuls.
Miss Widdecombe, 60, announced her decision to stand down last October. She is the owner of Grants Solicitors, a specialist firm focused on dealing with the problems of family breakdown in London, Surrey and Kent.
The mother-of-two is also a member of the Law Society Equality & Diversity Committee.
'Notorious' MP
Miss Widdecombe, 60, announced her decision to step aside last October.
She has become notorious for her tough and hard-hitting political style as an MP.She has become notorious for her tough and hard-hitting political style as an MP.
Three women The Maidstone and The Weald Conservative Association received 98 applications for the position, with 22 candidates selected for interview in December.
Once the process to find a prospective parliamentary candidate to replace her was set in motion, The Maidstone and The Weald Conservative Association received 98 applications for the position, with 22 candidates selected for interview in December. They were then cut down to 11 - nine candidates and two reserves - to go forward to Sunday's "Big Event" before the decision was made.
The figure was then cut down to 11 - nine candidates and two reserves - to go forward to Sunday's "Big Event". The final choice was made by an executive council composed of councillors and representatives from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells wards in the constituency.
The final choice of who will succeed Miss Widdecombe was made by an executive council composed of councillors and representatives from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells wards in the constituency.