General Election 2017: Esther McVey selected as Conservative candidate for Tatton

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 26^th April 2017

Wed 26^th Apr 2017

Esther McVey has been selected as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Tatton in the upcoming General Election on June 8th.

The former MP for Wirral West has had a high-profile political career as Employment Minister and as Minister for Disabled People.

Outside of work Esther, established the charity, If Chloe Can, providing career advice and work experience places for pupils and helped deliver the annual North West Business Women's Awards

Commenting on the selection, Esther said: "I am delighted to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Tatton and I would be honoured to represent it, working hard in Westminster to be a strong local voice on the issues that matter to local people.

"My priorities are be to ensure young people in Tatton get the best start in life. I will also be a champion for local businesses across the constituency and fight to ensure the protection of our beautiful countryside.

"Every vote will count in this General Election to help strengthen Theresa May's negotiating position on Brexit.

"So on June 8th, the choice is clear, Theresa May's Conservative Team providing strong and stable leadership for the United Kingdom, or a divided Labour Party, propped up by a Liberal Democrat, SNP coalition of chaos led by a failed and bumbling Jeremy Corbyn that will put our nation's future at risk.

"I look forward to engaging with local residents and standing up for Tatton."

Esther McVey will be up against Liberal Democrat candidate Gareth Wilson, who stood against George Osborne in 2015, and Nigel Hennerley who has been selected to stand as Green Party candidate.

The Labour Party have yet to select their candidate to contest the Tatton constituency in June's General Election. At the time of publication we are also unaware of any other candidates who need to submit their application by Wednesday May 11th.

Photo: Esther McVey (By Eric The Fish from UK - Hoylake 10K Winner Greg Jones, CC BY 2.0.

Tags:: Conservative Party, General Election 2017, Tatton Conservatives

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Pete Taylor

Wednesday 26^th April 2017 at 10:12 pm

Dreadful choice.

Stuart Redgard

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 1:09 am

My opinion. From Bad to worse!

Nick Jones

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 6:59 am

Absolutely Dreadful. !

Sally Hoare

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 7:35 am

If only everyone would agree with the above and vote for another party.

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 7:43 am

Without an 'independent' candidate in Tatton that is unlikely Sally

Elaine Napier

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 8:15 am

The Tory selection committee must really despise the voters of Tatton if they think Esther McVey is what's needed here. She was a disaster last time as demonstrated by Wirral 's failure to re-elect her. And her behaviour as Minister for Disabled People was absolutely weep worthy.

If the Tories wanted a candidate to deliver support for Theresa May, they needed to look elsewhere.

DELETED ACCOUNT

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 8:26 am

The least acceptable of the three. It shows contempt for voters.

Terry Roeves

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 8:50 am

Well, well, well. Esther McVey is "going to fight for our beautiful countryside". How?
Looking forward to her campaigning here in Wilmslow, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
What is she going to do? What can she really do to stop the bulldozers? Listening to RoW and WTC and not CEC would be a good starting point.
Same goes for LibDem candidate of course, Gareth Wilson.

Simon Worthington

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 10:54 am

A Sc*****!!!!!!! You avin a larff. Where is our independent????

Josie Owen

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 12:19 pm

Dreadful choice I won't be voting for her

Richard Birchall

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 1:04 pm

What a terrible choice for Tatton, why can't we introduce some local democracy and vote for an independent. Talk about 'frying pans and fire'! Disenfranchised again!

Steve 'Buck' Taylor

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 2:25 pm

Whoa! An abject failure last time round in the Wirral, and we the denizens of this community get saddled with her. Enough said I'm going to go in a darkened room and cover my head hopefully when I come out, I find I've had a bad dream.

David Russell

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 2:48 pm

Seems to me that she's someone who will take on a tough job if required; why wouldn't we want someone like her? Lost in Wirral by a narrow margin in the face of appalling vilification.
It's interesting as well to read, on the Alderley Edge equivalent of this site, the comments from someone who actually attended the selection meeting, so let's allow her to campaign in the constituency.
We last had an independent candidate in 2010 but if somebody wants to be the new Martin Bell then go for it!

Michael Widger

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 3:21 pm

Haven't we suffered enough? Neil Hamilton, George Osborne and now Esther McVey. Disastrous Minister for the Disabled and hard Brexiter. At least she will have to find a new seat in 2021/22 if the boundary changes go ahead, where no doubt she will be imposed on some other poor unsuspecting constituency.

Alan Brough

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 3:32 pm

@David Russell

By "Someone who actually attended the selection meeting" do you mean former Conservative Councillor and Tory stalwart Duncan Herald?

I can only go by what I have read of Miss McVey, unfortunately it isn't good, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and wait to hear her vision of the future.

Richard Bullock

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 3:36 pm

@Nick Jones, Simon Worthington, Richard Birchall,: Nominations are open until Thursday 11th May (at 4pm), so if you want an independent candidate to vote for - persuade someone to stand as an independent (or stand yourself). You've got 2 weeks to get the required 10 nominations and send in the £500 fee to the (acting) returning officer.
http://bit.ly/1X7eZV3

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 9:54 pm

I would be interested to see how many people attended the meeting and look at the number of votes each candidate received.

Ian Hughes

Thursday 27^th April 2017 at 10:50 pm

Simon Worthington, Why do you have a problem with Esther McVey's hometown?

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 8:52 am

@ Richard: As you know, Martin Bell uniquely stood as an uncontested Integrity candidate, and when you review what is going on at CEC there is a good case for someone of a similar reputation today. The ‘unchecked’ catalogue of catastrophe’s increases by the week; CEC fiscal dissipation on a grand scale / Failing to Merge East and West / Lyme Green / Corefit / Michael Jones & law enforcement investigation / Severance payments / Chief Exec Michel Suarez suspended / Cllrs voting to remove Green Belt protection / Local Plan engagement demonstrably dismissed / Non-compliance to Govt planning policy ignoring the ‘exceptional circumstance’ criteria / Ignoring Brownfield development /Allowing PCC to increasing precept then appointing family friend as his Deputy withholding her CV/ Appointment of disbarred director / 4% Tax rise -declared as a saving ! etc… As you allude the time scales for a meaningful challenge are gone and there are ‘many’ who could do a better job than the current incumbents. A ‘Blue Rosette’ on a donkey would secure office until boundary change here, So whilst there are no independents either willing or wise enough to stand, I will also decline and discourage anyone else to do so, (Why take a pay cut ?) but will support your nomination or anyone else’s should they wish to go through the charade at this late stage.

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 9:09 am

@ Pete; It is perhaps an act of kindness not to select the better candidates Kath Fletcher and Alex Williams in light of boundary change. The number of people at the meeting perhaps is irrelevant as they will do as they are told from the centre anyway as previously demonstrated with 'Our star'.

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 10:25 am

I notice that one of Osborne's vanity projects, the London garden bridge, has been scrubbed. I look forward to reading about it in a couple of hours in the Evening Standard.

Charlotte Peters Rock

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 3:02 pm

Osborne ignored Tatton.. seemingly appearing only for camera shots.

This is Esther McVey's voting record. Take heed Tatton. Are you really going to vote for this woman?

Charlotte Peters Rock
Chairman Tatton Labour

http://bit.ly/2oEX2WI

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 4:48 pm

Hi Charlotte,

Have Tatton Labour nominated a candidate to oppose Ms McVey yet?

If so (or when you do) can you let us know how that candidate would have voted on the same issues?

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 9:00 pm

Alan ....Tony Blair ???

Friday 28^th April 2017 at 9:30 pm

Whenever I'm puzzled by Conservative politics my first port of call is the Daily Mail:

http://dailym.ai/1g7Ipku

Well, that's OK. Well done Tatton Conservative Party; you have found a true successor to Hamilton and Osborne. You have made us a laughing-stock, again!

Gary Doyle

Saturday 29^th April 2017 at 4:18 pm

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse we get lumbered with a walking ego and policy based on a self publicising agenda.

We are just a vehicle to get her back to her "rightful position"

Gerald Norden

Wednesday 3^rd May 2017 at 8:49 pm

No real surprise, the intelligence of the Tatton Conservative Party is amply demonstrated on the selection of a "famous for being famous so called celebrity" to be selected as it's candidate.
The hope is that there will be an alternative candidate on the list for the Tatton seat who will have merit to attract the votes of those who usually vote for the "Blue Scarf" - if they bother to read all the information on the other candidates.
The other major issue to be addressed is the unelected 800 in the Upper House, costing £Millions and making sure the "safe seat system" and our "Democracy" is a farce.

Thursday 4^th May 2017 at 7:02 am

Esther McVey's home area has been one of the biggest cash swallowers of modern times. The "need" for our cash created by self distruction of most of it's industry by greed and foolishness. It was once one of the largest ports in the world. Check why the Manchester ship canal was built or the reaction of the penniless Jews expelled from Russia just over 100 years ago when arriving in Liverpool - one look and they got on the train to Manchester where they have prospered. Heseltine alone ploughed millions of taxpayers cash into this bottomless pit to little avail. She was useless on the Wirral and slung out and now we have been lumbered.

Thursday 11^th May 2017 at 8:38 pm

Nominations have now closed, and those wanting an independent candidate to vote for have gotten their wish: Quentin Abel is standing as an independent, in addition to the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem & Green candidates.

Thursday 11^th May 2017 at 10:09 pm

A pamphlet dropped through my door from Esther last evening in which she helpfully gave us a bit of insight into who she is. It concluded with a list of her pledges........

1) To live in the constituency.
2) To hold regular surgeries.
3) To provide news via email (providing you send your email address to Tatton Conservative HQ)

Is it just me or does anyone else feel slightly nonplussed by this?

I appreciate that Tatton is a cast iron certainty for the Tories but couldn't she perhaps humour us with the pretence (at least) that she is going to do something meaningful for local people?