A sitting MP is among hopefuls in the race to replace Nickie Aiken as the Conservative candidate for the Two Cities.
Jamie Wallis, who was elected in 2019 to serve Bridgend in Wales, is among party members to have been added to the long list, WT understands.
Mr Wallis is one of the first MPs to openly describe as transgender, following a statement in March 2022. He announced last October that he would seek a new seat at the next election.
But several candidates with local ties are no longer thought to be in the running, including Westminster councillor and London Assembly member Tony Devenish.
Moz Hussain, who was runner-up after Susan Hall in the race to be the Conservative mayoral candidate, has also been refused.
Other candidates thought to still be in the contest include local campaigner and former councillor Tim Barnes, and the Prime Minister’s director of strategy and former UK Music CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin.
Sanjoy Sen, who missed out on taking North Wales seat Alyn and Deeside in 2019 by just 213 votes, is also reported to be standing.
Ms Aiken, who became MP for the Cities of London and Westminster in 2019, announced last month she would not seek reelection in order to support her husband in a job overseas.
Her successor will fight the seat at the next general election under the new constituency boundaries.
The Cities of London and Westminster denied that there was a ‘long list’ and said that decisions were still ongoing.
Correction: This article was amended after the local Conservative association denied there was a long list and insisted decisions over candidates were still ongoing
[…] in the race to be the Conservative candidate for the Two Cities are thought to have connections to the […]