The Conservative A-List, also called Priority List, was a list of

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

candidates drawn up by Conservative Central Office at the behest of

David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...

following his election as party leader in December 2005, aimed as a means of broadening the number of Conservative Members of Parliament, potential peers and MEPs from

minority group The term "minority group" has different meanings, depending on the context. According to common usage, it can be defined simply as a group in society with the least number of individuals, or less than half of a population. Usually a minority g ...

s and women as well as other preferred candidates for candidature. Where the preferred forums for selection were held, at least two members from the list were put to every

open primary Primary elections or primaries are elections held to determine which candidates will run in an upcoming general election. In a partisan primary, a political party selects a candidate. Depending on the state and/or party, there may be an "open pri ...

, and where these were not held the A-list were recommended directly, particularly to the top target seats. Cameron Cutie was a term used for female candidates.

History

In April 2006, a Conservative Party committee on candidates set out to deliver a promise by

to transform the Conservative party at

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

. The committee reduced 500 aspiring politicians on the party's list of approved parliamentary candidates to an "A-list" of between 100 and 150 priority candidates. The result was a list on which more than half of the names were of women. The list included the former ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' actor Adam Rickitt,

Zac Goldsmith Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park, (born 20 January 1975) is a British politician, life peer and journalist who served as Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environmen ...

, the author Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), and

Margot James Margot Cathleen James (born 28 August 1957) is a British politician who served as Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State for Digital and Creative Industries from 2018 to 2019. She was Member of Parliament (United Kin ...

. Amid controversy, the "A-list" approach was endorsed by

Michael Portillo Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo ( ; born 26 May 1953) is a British journalist, broadcaster, and former Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician. His broadcast series include railway documentaries such as ''Great British Railway Jou ...

, a Conservative MP until 2005, who in 2006 said that Conservative chairmen and activists in seats considered potentially winnable were in the run-up to the 2010 election urged by Conservative Central Office to select candidates from the new A-list and were in many cases included in open primaries, new and preferred open-to-all selection meetings. The 2010 general election saw failures as well as successes for the "A-listers" selected for 'winnable' seats.

Listed

Those on the A-list included the following: (bold marks people elected to Parliament in 2010. Asterisks * are placed after some entries for decoration.) *Amar Ahmed, a GP in Cheshire since 2000 and was National Chairman Conservative Policy Forum, Public Sector and Infrastructure, 2011–2015. * Tariq Ahmad, life peer in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

, 2011–present * Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), MP for

Corby Corby is a town and civil parish in the North Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England, northeast of Northampton. In 2021 it had a population of 68,164. From 1974 to 2021, it was the administrative headquarters of the Borough of ...

, 2010–2012 * Shaun Bailey, children's worker, PPC for

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It ...

2010, candidate for

Mayor of London The mayor of London is the chief executive of the Greater London Authority. The role was created in 2000 after the Greater London devolution referendum in 1998, and was the first directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom. The current ...

2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2023–present *

Harriett Baldwin Dame Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin (; born 2 May 1960), is a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for West Worcestershire since 2010 Un ...

, MP for West Worcestershire, 2010–present * * Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, 2010–present * *

Gavin Barwell Gavin Laurence Barwell, Baron Barwell (born 23 January 1972) is a British politician and former Downing Street Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Theresa May. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliament for Croydon Central ...

, MP for

Croydon Central Croydon Central was a constituency created in 1974 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2017 until its abolition for the 2024 general election by Labour MP Sarah Jones. The seat bucked the trend in national result ...

, 2010–2017 * * James Bethell, a founder of the

Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publisher (popular music), music publishing busin ...

; hereditary peer in the House of Lords, 2018–present * Nick Boles, MP for Grantham and Stamford, 2010–2019 * *

Karen Bradley Dame Karen Anne Bradley (; born 12 March 1970) is a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Staffordshire Moorlands (UK Parliament cons ...

, MP for

Staffordshire Moorlands Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council is based in Leek, the district's largest town. The district also contains the towns of Biddulph and Cheadle, along with a large rural area containing ...

, 2010–present * Angie Bray, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, 2010–2015 *

Steve Brine Stephen Charles Brine (born 28 January 1974) is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Winchester (UK Parliament constituency), Winchester from 2010 United Kingdom general ele ...

, MP for

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

, 2010–2024 * Fiona Bruce, MP for

Congleton Congleton is a market town and civil parish in Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. It is on the River Dane, south of Manchester and north of Stoke on Trent. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 28,497 and the built-up area ha ...

, 2010–2024 * Dr. David Bull, television presenter, PPC for Brighton Pavilion, 2010;

Brexit Party Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...

MEP, 2019–2020 *

Conor Burns Sir Conor Burns (born 24 September 1972) is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bournemouth West from 2010 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Minister of State for Trade Policy from 2 ...

, MP for Bournemouth West, 2010–2024 * * Georgina Butler, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Costa Rica * Martin Callanan, MEP for

North East England North East England, commonly referred to simply as the North East within England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of County DurhamNorthumberland, , Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and part of northern North Yorkshire. ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2014–present * Joanne Cash, barrister, PPC for Westminster North 2010 * Pamela Chesters

London Assembly The London Assembly is a 25-member elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds supermajority, to amend the Mayor's annual budget and to reject t ...

Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities * Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, 2010–2024 * * Tim Collins, former MP * Charles Crawford, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Poland * Iain Dale, blogger *

Caroline Dinenage Caroline Julia Dinenage, Baroness Lancaster of Kimbolton, (born 28 October 1971), also styled as Dame Caroline Dinenage, is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gosport since 2010. Dinenage ...

, MP for

Gosport Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hampshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 70,131 and the district had a pop ...

, 2010–present * Jane Ellison, MP for

Battersea Battersea is a large district in southwest London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and also extends along the south bank of the Thames Tideway. It includes the Battersea Park. Hist ...

, 2010–2017 * Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Entrepreneur of the Year — the Black Enterprise Awards 2005, PPC Chippenham 2010 *

Howard Flight Howard Emerson Flight, Baron Flight (born 16 June 1948) is a Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician in the United Kingdom and a member of the House of Lords, ''ePolitix'', 19 November 2010 who was Member of Parliament (United Kingdom) ...

, former MP, life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present *

Vicky Ford Victoria Grace Ford ( Pollock, 21 September 1967) is a British politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelmsford from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she briefly served as Minister of State for Development from ...

, MEP for East of England, MP for

Chelmsford Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...

, 2017–2024 * * Jacqueline Foster, MEP for

North West England North West England is one of nine official regions of England and consists of the ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The North West had a population of 7,4 ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present * George Freeman, MP for

Mid Norfolk Mid Norfolk is a List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies, constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, UK Parliament since 2010 by George Freeman (po ...

, 2010–present * *David Gold, PPC for

Eltham Eltham ( ) is a district of South London, southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is east-southeast of Charing Cross, and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. The three ...

2010 *

, MP for

Richmond Park Richmond Park, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is the largest of Royal Parks of London, London's Royal Parks and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation. It was created by Charles I of England, Cha ...

, 2010–2016, 2017–2019, life peer in the House of Lords, 2020–present * Francois Gordon, former High Commissioner to Uganda * Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, 2010–2024; MP for Maidstone and Malling, 2024–present * Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton, 2010–2019 * *

Sam Gyimah Samuel Phillip Gyimah (; born 10 August 1976) is a British politician and banker who served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency), East Surrey from 2010 United Kingd ...

, MP for

East Surrey East Surrey is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Claire Coutinho, a Conservative who formerly served as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. The seat covers an affluent area in t ...

, 2010–2019 * *

Rebecca Harris Dame Elizabeth Rebecca Scott Harris (born 22 December 1967) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Castle Point since 2010. She was the Comptroller of the Household from 2022 to 2024. In ...

, MP for Castle Point, 2010–present * * Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, 2010–2024 *

, MP for

Stourbridge Stourbridge () is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Situated on the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour, the town lies around west of Birmingham, at the southwester ...

, 2010–2019 * Syed Kamall, MEP for

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present * Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, 2010–2024 * *

Andrea Leadsom Dame Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (; ; born 13 May 1963) is a British politician who served in various ministerial positions under Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak between 2014 and 2024. A member of the Co ...

, MP for South Northamptonshire, 2010–2024 * * Dr. Phillip Lee, MP for

Bracknell Bracknell () is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, the westernmost area within the Greater London Built-up Area, Greater London Urban Area and the administrative centre of the borough of Bracknell Forest. It lies to the east of Re ...

, 2010–2019 * *

Brandon Lewis Sir Brandon Kenneth Lewis (born 20 June 1971) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor from September to October 2022. He previously served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2018 to 201 ...

, MP for

Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth ( ), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside resort, seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, m ...

, 2010–2024 *

Group Captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

Al Lockwood * Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, 2010–2024 *

Kit Malthouse Christopher Laurie "Kit" Malthouse (born 27 October 1966) is a British Conservative Party politician and businessman who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Hampshire since 2015. He served as Secretary of State for Education ...

, Member of the

, MP for

North West Hampshire North West Hampshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Conservative Kit Malthouse, who served as Education Secretary in 2022. History This constituency's results suggest a Conservative ...

2015–present * Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North, 2010–2024 *

Anne McIntosh Anne Caroline Ballingall McIntosh, Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (born 20 September 1954) is a British politician who has been a life peer since 2015. A member of the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party, McIntosh served as Member of Pa ...

, MP for

Thirsk and Malton Thirsk and Malton is a Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, constituency in North Yorkshire represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 United Kingdom general el ...

, 2010–2015 *

Esther McVey Esther Louise, Lady Davies (born 24 October 1967), styled as Esther McVey, is a British Conservative Party politician and television presenter who has been serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tatton since 2017, and served as the M ...

, MP for Wirral West, 2010–2015 and Tatton, 2017–present * Mark Menzies, MP for Fylde, 2010–2024 * *

Priti Patel Dame Priti Sushil Patel (born 29 March 1972) is a British politician who has served as Shadow Foreign Secretary since November 2024, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, she was Secr ...

,Robin Brant
A year on, has the A-list worked?
at BBC.co.uk dated December 2006 MP for Witham, 2010–present * * Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby, 2010–2024 * Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, 2010–2024 * Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment, life peer in the House of Lords since 2023 * Annunziata Rees-Mogg, journalist, PPC for Somerton and Frome, 2010, Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020 * Adam Rickitt, actor and singer * Caroline Righton, presenter, PPC for St Austell and Newquay, 2010 *Murad Roberts, Member of the Society of Conservative Lawyers, 2015 *

Amber Rudd Amber Augusta Rudd (born 1 August 1963) is a British former politician who served as Home Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2018 to 2019. She was a Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Pa ...

, MP for Hastings and Rye, 2010–2019 *

Laura Sandys Laura Jane Sandys (; born 5 June 1964) is a former chair of the European Movement UK, and a British Conservative Party politician, who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Thanet between 2010 and 2015. Early life The daughter ...

, MP for Thanet South, 2010–2015 * Jane Scott, Leader of

Wiltshire Council Wiltshire Council, known between 1889 and 2009 as Wiltshire County Council, is the Local government in England, local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Wiltshire (district), Wiltshire in South West England, and has its headquarters a ...

, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present *

Anna Soubry Anna Mary Soubry (; born 7 December 1956) is a British barrister, journalist and former politician who was Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Broxtowe (UK Parliament constituency), Broxtowe from 2010 United Ki ...

, MP for Broxtowe, 2010–2019 * Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, 2010–2024 *

Mel Stride Sir Melvyn John Stride (born 30 September 1961) is a British politician who has served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet since November 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of ...

, MP for Central Devon, 2010–present * *

Philippa Stroud Philippa Claire Stroud, Baroness Stroud (born 2 April 1965) is a Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party Peer in the House of Lords and leader of several conservative think tanks. She is co-founder and, since November 2023, the chief exec ...

, Director of the Centre for Social Justice, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present *

Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...

, MP for

South West Norfolk South West Norfolk is a Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 United Kingdom general election, 2024 by Terr ...

, 2010–2024;

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister Advice (constitutional law), advises the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign on the exercise of much of the Royal prerogative ...

, September–October 2022 * Sayeeda Warsi, life peer in the House of Lords, 2007–present * Heather Wheeler, MP for

South Derbyshire South Derbyshire is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Derbyshire, England. The district covers the towns of Melbourne, Derbyshire, Melbourne and Swadlincote as well as numerous villages and hamlets such as Hilton, Derbys ...

, 2010–2024 * Susan Williams, life peer in the House of Lords, 2013–present

Notes and references

Notes

References

{{David Cameron History of the Conservative Party (UK) David Cameron Organisation of the Conservative Party (UK)