Anthony, incumbent MP for South Cambridgeshire, has been selected by the Conservative Party to fight the upcoming General Election in the new seat of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire.
With the current South Cambridgeshire seat by the boundary review, Anthony was able to apply for either his current seat, which includes several new areas to the south of Cambridge, or the newly created seat which includes St Neots, Cambourne, Northstowe, and a large number of villages to the north of the A428.
A selection panel of local Conservative Party members was convened to interview Anthony, who gave a brief speech at the meeting after which his selection was confirmed by a vote.
Anthony commented: "I am delighted and honoured to have been selected as the Conservative Party candidate for the new Parliamentary seat of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire at the next general election.
“Choosing which parliamentary seat to apply for has been the hardest decision of my life. I have a deep emotional attachment to South Cambridgeshire, but my constituency is being cut in two following the Boundary Review. I have had to make a choice of which side to go for, and I decided to stand in the area where I believe my current campaigns can make the greatest difference for local people on the biggest local challenges. It is where I have lived most of the time since the last election, and I will be standing again as MP for many of the communities I currently represent, from Girton to Papworth Everard, from Longstanton to Caldecote, from Bar Hill to Swavesey, as well as the new towns of Cambourne and Northstowe. I am already MP for nearly half the new constituency - it has 15 wards, and I am currently MP for 7 of them.
“St Neots, Cambourne, and Northstowe are at the forefront of an enormous development drive. In the coming years, the residents of these growing towns and the villages that surround them will need the support of a strong and dedicated local MP to represent the needs of their communities. I have been tackling the many threats to our way of life – water shortages, community facilities, transport infrastructure and a lack of affordable housing. I know I have the experience and track record to take on this challenge and I very much hope that residents will give me the opportunity to do so.
“South Cambridgeshire constituency is where I went to school and got married, and will forever hold a very special place in my heart. I will always be enormously grateful to the voters who put their faith in me to represent them. Being the Member of Parliament for such a fantastic constituency continues to be the greatest honour of my life and I am fully committed to supporting my constituents in the current South Cambridgeshire seat for as long as I remain their MP. In due course, I very much look forward to welcoming the new Conservative candidate for South Cambridgeshire and to working with them to ensure their victory at the next general election.”
Cllr Richard Williams, Chairman of South Cambridgeshire Conservatives, commented: "I know members in the area of the new seat will be delighted that Anthony has been adopted as their candidate for the next general election. Like many MPs whose seats have been split, Anthony has faced a difficult decision. He has been an excellent MP for our Association and will of course continue to represent the whole of the current South Cambs Constituency up until the next General Election. He has a deep affection for our area, and I have no doubt he will continue to champion the interests of our County as an outstanding MP for the area in the next Parliament.”
Nigel Eaton, Chairman of Huntingdon Constituency Conservative Association, also commented: I’m delighted that Anthony has been selected to fight the new seat in St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire. He brings a great deal of campaigning experience to the Town, and clearly struck a chord with members in the meeting as a committed, active, and knowledgeable candidate. I’m looking forward to working with him in the area, and I know St Neots will get behind Anthony and I look forward to seeing him elected as their MP.
