2019 General Election Candidates to watch
Cicero Group | December 2019
After December 12, our Parliament promises to be radically different from the previous ‘logjammed Parliament’. With 70 MPs standing down, it means that whatever the electoral outcome, it is already guaranteed that there will be a significant number of new personalities to engage with. The next Parliament also looks set to be our most diverse ever, with 34 per cent of candidates being women (up from 29 per cent in 2017) and, according to British Future, there will be 67 BAME MPs elected if each party were to win the constituencies they held in 2017. The Conservatives will be united on ‘getting Brexit done’ by the end of January. All 635 Conservative candidates standing at this election have pledged to vote to pass Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. One in particular to watch is Andrew Griffith, who was one of Johnson’s first appointments upon entering No.10, taking up a role as business adviser. Labour will be looking to maintain their ‘red wall’ in Leave-backing heartlands, but also to pick up seats where they can. The selection process has been as much about reshaping the Parliamentary Labour Party to more closely reflect the left-leaning leadership and membership. This is sure to guarantee a left-wing candidate on the ballot paper in a future leadership contest. As the Liberal Democrats face the squeeze between the Visit the Cicero elections site
two major parties, polling suggests an increase in vote share from 2017 will not necessarily result in a marked increase in their number of seats. However, there are clear opportunities to win seats in West London and Sheffield Hallam, which were lost in 2017. In Scotland, the SNP will be looking to recoup their losses from 2017. The party is sure to do well but it remains uncertain whether they will return to quite the heights of 2015. A particularly notable scalp would be East Dunbartonshire, the constituency held by Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson. We hope that you will find this selection of 30 candidates to watch a useful guide. We certainly look forward to seeing how many of our 30 selections make it to Westminster after December 12. Get in touch with a member of the UK Public Affairs team: Tom Frackowiak Managing Director - UK Public Affairs Tom.Frackowiak@cicero-group.com +44 (0)20 7297 5966 Raj Mandair Senior Account Manager Raj.Mandair@cicero-group.com +44 (0)20 3397 1874 1
Candidates to watch
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Alicia Kearns Rutland and Melton Incumbent MP: Alan Duncan, CON Majority: 23,104 Twitter: @aliciakearns
Kearns is a counter-terrorism expert and Director of Global Influence, currently directing counter disinformation and hybrid warfare interventions in Lebanon, Morocco and the Western Balkans. During her career, she has worked for the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice.
Alyn Smith Stirling Incumbent MP: Stephen Kerr, CON Majority: 148 Twitter: @AlynSmith
Smith has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004 and is also a member of the SNP’s National Executive Committee. Prior to politics, he worked as adviser on European, Justice and Business policies to the SNP Group at Holyrood. Smith is a qualified lawyer and worked at commercial law firm, Clifford Chance.
Amy Callaghan East Dunbartonshire Incumbent MP: Jo Swinson, LD Majority: 5,339 Twitter: @AmyCallaghanSNP
Callaghan is a local SNP activist who is currently office manager to MSP Rona Mackay. Prior to this she was an adviser to former SNP Minister, Aileen McLeod. Through Callaghan, the SNP will be hoping to unseat current Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson.
Andrew Griffith Arundel & South Downs Incumbent MP: Nick Herbert, CON Majority: 23,883 Twitter: @GriffithA
Griffith was the Chief Financial Officer of Sky Group until July having previously earned the title of being the youngest ever FTSE 100 Finance Director back in 2008. A friend of Boris Johnson, Griffith was appointed as the No.10 business adviser in July 2019. This is his third time as a candidate having run previously for Corby in 2001 and 2005.
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Candidates to watch
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Anthony Browne South Cambridgeshire Incumbent MP: Heidi Allen, LD Majority: 15,952 Twitter: @ab4scambs
Browne is close to the Conservative leadership having previously served as Head of Policy for Boris Johnson during his time as Mayor of London. As a former Director of the think tank Policy Exchange and former Chief Executive of the British Bankers Association, Browne is well known in the public policy community. More recently, Browne served as Chairman of the Government’s Regulatory Policy Committee.
Apsana Begum Poplar & Limehouse Incumbent MP: Jim Fitzpatrick, LAB Majority: 27,212 Twitter: @ApsanaForPL
As a member of Momentum’s National Coordinating Group, Begum has close links to the Leader’s Office. She previously worked for Lutfur Rahman, the controversial Mayor of Tower Hamlets and is now backed by the remnants of his political party. She is currently facing a council investigation over whether she wrongly secured a £330,000 council flat.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy Streatham Incumbent MP: Chuka Umunna, LD Majority: 26,285 Twitter: @BellRibeiroAddy
The selection of Ribeiro-Addy, Dianne Abbott’s former chief of staff, was seen as a major coup by the Labour Left. As a candidate, she replaces former Labour MP, now Lib Dem candidate for Cities of London & Westminster, Chuka Umunna. If elected, Ribeiro-Addy will boost the ranks of the left-wing ‘Campaign Group’ in Parliament.
Claudia Webbe Leicester East Incumbent MP: Keith Vaz, LAB Majority: 22,428 Twitter: @ClaudiaWebbe
The Islington Councillor and member of Labour’s ruling NEC, who was born in Leicester, is a close friend of the Labour Leader. Her selection marks a victory for the Party’s Left flank, replacing outgoing MP Keith Vaz. On Islington Council she is the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport and the Environment. 3
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Danny Kruger MBE Devizes Incumbent MP: Claire Perry, CON Majority: 21,136 Twitter: @danny__kruger
Son of Bake Off Judge Prue Leith, Kruger was Political Secretary to the PM, Boris Johnson. He has also been a No.10 speech writer for David Cameron and, under Theresa May, he led on the Government’s Civil Society Strategy. Before turning to politics he co-founded the re-offending project ‘Only Connect’ and ran a charity in support of atrisk young people.
David Johnston OBE Wantage Incumbent MP: Ed Vaizey, CON Majority: 17,380 Twitter: No profile
Johnston recently stepped down as Chief Executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, which expanded significantly under his leadership. He has a lengthy record of implementing change in social mobility having served as a Commissioner on the Social Mobility Commission from 2012-2017 for which he received an OBE.
Emma Whysall Chipping Barnet Incumbent MP: Theresa Villiers, CON Majority: 353 Twitter: @EmmaWhysall
The 2017 candidate is standing again hoping to unseat current Cabinet Minister, Theresa Villiers. Whysall is a member of soft-left group ‘Open Labour’, which also supported her candidacy. She was also backed by Unison and the Jewish Labour Movement against the Labour Leadership’s preferred candidate, Holly Kal-Weiss.
Faiza Shaheen Chingford & Wood Green Incumbent MP: Iain Duncan-Smith, CON Majority: 2,438 Twitter: @FaizaShaheen
As the Director of the think tank CLASS, Shaheen is a regular pro-Corbyn commentator in the media. Should she be successful in unseating former Conservative Leader and Cabinet Minister Iain Duncan Smith, she will no doubt become one of the Left’s most prominent MPs. 4
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Flo Eshalomi Vauxhall Incumbent MP: Kate Hoey, LAB Majority: 20,250 Twitter: @FloEshalomi
The selection of Eshalomi, the Lambeth and Southwark London Assembly member and City Hall Labour Transport spokesperson will have been a blow to the Labour Leadership. She triumphed over more left-wing candidates such as Corbyn’s former Political Secretary, Katy Clark, and was backed by the Corbyn-sceptic group ‘Progress’.
James Murray Ealing North Incumbent MP: Stephen Pound, LAB Majority: 19,693 Twitter: @jamesmurray_ldn
London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing won the selection to replace outgoing MP Stephen Pound thanks in part to his support from the Unite Union and the Labour Leadership. Although Murray has taken some strong left-wing positions on issues such as rent controls, he is considered to be on the ‘Soft Left’ of the Labour Party.
James Wild North West Norfolk Incumbent MP: Henry Bellingham, CON Majority: 13,788 Twitter: @jamesowild
Wild is a former lobbyist turned special adviser who is particularly well connected among senior Conservative Ministers. His recent roles have included Senior Special Adviser to Boris Johnson and Chief of Staff to David Lidington at the Cabinet Office. His wife, Baroness Evans, is leader of the House of Lords.
Kate Osborne Jarrow Incumbent MP: Stephen Hepburn, LAB Majority: 17,263 Twitter: @KateOsborneNE
A member of Unite’s executive council who had the support of Momentum, Unite, ASLEF and BFAWU, Osborne’s selection was a coup for the Labour Left. She previously worked as a Unite trade union rep at the Royal Mail, and has also served as a union representative on Labour’s highest disciplinary body – the National Constitutional Committee (NCC). 5
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Katherine Fletcher South Ribble Incumbent MP: Seema Kennedy, CON Majority: 7,421 Twitter: @Fletch_1976
Fletcher has spent much of her varied career in business strategy and finance and now owns an SME that manufactures and exports wooden products. She was formerly the Strategy Lead of former Chancellor George Osborne’s think tank, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Kenny MacAskill East Lothian Incumbent MP: Martin Whitfield, LAB Majority: 3,083 Twitter: @KennyMacAskill
MacAskill will be seeking to take East Lothian for the SNP after Labour MP Martin Whitfield unseated the SNP’s George Kerevan in 2015. MacAskill served as Justice Secretary in the Scottish Government from 2007 to 2014. Since stepping down as an MSP he has been working as a political commentator, including writing a weekly Scotsman column.
Laura Farris Newbury Incumbent MP: Richard Benyon, CON Majority: 24,380 Twitter: @Laura__Farris
Farris is an employment law barrister. She comes from political lineage with both her father, Michael McNair-Wilson, and uncle, Patrick McNair-Wilson, having served as MPs. Since 2015 Farris has undertaken advisory work for a number of MPs including Michael Gove and Dominic Raab (when they were Secretary of State and Minister of State for Justice, respectively).
Laura Gordon Sheffield Hallam Incumbent MP: Jared O’Mara, LAB Majority: 2,125 Twitter: @LibDemLaura
Gordon is looking to retake Sheffield Hallam for the Lib Dems after former party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg lost his seat in 2017. She previously worked for the Department for International Development, prior to which she worked in humanitarian roles for charities, including Oxfam and Save the Children. 6
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Laura Trott Sevenoaks Incumbent MP: Michael Fallon, CON Majority: 21,917 Twitter: No profile
Trott was formerly No.10 Director of Strategic Communications under David Cameron where she was also responsible for policies on women, education and childcare. Since leaving No.10, Trott has been working for a communications consultancy.
Mary Wimbury Wrexham Incumbent MP: Ian Lucas, LAB Majority: 1,832 Twitter: @MaryWimbury
Similar to Eshalomi, the selection of Wimbury, a member of the strategy board of the Corbynsceptic group ‘Progress’, will be seen as a big win for opponents of the Labour Leadership. She now faces a tough battle to hold on to the now-marginal seat of Wrexham.
Munira Wilson Twickenham Incumbent MP: Vince Cable, LD Majority: 9,762 Twitter: @Munirawilson
Wilson served as a councillor in Richmond between 2006 and 2010 where she led on the Council’s Children’s Services and Finance & Strategy scrutiny committees. She now works in communications for Merck, an American pharmaceuticals company. If elected, Wilson will take over from former Lib Dem leader and outgoing MP, Vince Cable.
Natalie Elphicke OBE Dover Incumbent MP: Charlie Elphicke, CON Majority: 6,437 Twitter: @NatalieElphicke
Elphicke is a specialist in housing finance. She led a 2015 government review into housing policy and is currently the Chief Executive of the Housing & Finance Institute. Elphicke is also the wife of out-going Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, whose reputation suffered following allegations of misconduct.
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Nickie Aiken Cities of London & Westminster Incumbent MP: Mark Field, CON Majority: 3,148 Twitter: No profile
Aiken has been Leader of Westminster City Council since 2017 and is a respected figure in local government. She was Head of Group PR at Bradford and Bingley and a former Press Officer for the Welsh Conservative Party during William Hague’s tenure as leader. She is married to Alex Aiken, Executive Director for Government Communications at the Cabinet Office.
Paula Barker Liverpool Wavertree Incumbent MP: Luciana Berger, LD Majority: 29,466 Twitter: @PaulaBarker1
Barker’s selection is another big win for the Left in a seat previously held by arch-Corbynsceptic Luciana Berger. Barker succeeded Angela Rayner as Unison’s North West regional trade union convenor, and had her Parliamentary selection bid endorsed by the unions and by Momentum. Barker supported Jeremy Corbyn in both his 2015 and 2016 leadership elections.
Sam Tarry Ilford South Incumbent MP: Mike Gapes, IND Majority: 31,647 Twitter: @SamTarry
If elected Tarry will be one of the most high-profile Corbynites in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). As a former Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) official, Tarry worked on both of Jeremy Corbyn’s previous Leadership campaigns. As a result, he has the backing of most major trade unions and the pro-Corbyn group, Momentum.
Saqib Bhatti Meriden Incumbent MP: Caroline Spelman, CON Majority: 19,198 Twitter: @bhatti_saqib
Bhatti has spent the last 10 years as a businessman in Birmingham. He is currently president of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership. During the 2016 EU referendum campaign he was a key member of ‘Muslims for Britain’ who worked closely with Vote Leave. 8
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Sarah Olney Richmond Park Incumbent MP: Zac Goldsmith, CON Majority: 45 Twitter: @sarahjolney1
Olney will be hoping to win back Richmond Park after winning the December 2016 by-election only to lose the seat seven months later in the 2017 General Election. Following her loss in 2017 she was Chief of Staff to the Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable. Before politics, Olney worked as an accountant at Barclays, Arts & Business, Distilled Ltd, and SCi Sales Group.
Sarah Owen Luton North Incumbent MP: Kelvin Hopkins, LAB Majority: 14,364 Twitter: @SarahOwen_
Owen is a political officer for the GMB union and a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee. She chairs the ‘Chinese for Labour’ group and would be the first Labour MP of East Asian origin if elected. A pro-Remain campaigner, she is seeking to replace Eurosceptic Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins.
Get in touch... If you would like to speak to Cicero about this document, or how we can support your organisation and its public affairs objectives, please do contact a member of the UK Public Affairs team below: Tom Frackowiak Managing Director - UK Public Affairs Tom.Frackowiak@cicero-group.com +44 (0)20 7297 5966
Raj Mandair Senior Account Manager Raj.Mandair@cicero-group.com +44 (0)20 3397 1874
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