Conservatives prepare to choose Clacton candidate

  • Anglia
Tories to choose Clacton candidate Credit: Gareth Owen

The Conservatives will tonight choose their candidate to fight next month's Clacton by-election, caused by the defection of Douglas Carswell to the UK Indepdendence Party.

He had a 12,000 majority when he retained the seat for the Tories at the 2010 General Election, and according to early polls is a clear favourite to become UKIP's first MP.

This is the first by-election in Essex for 26 years. The two Conservative candidates vying for the nomination are Sue Lissimore, who sits on Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council and Giles Watling, who's on Tendring District Council.

Simon Martin-Redman, chairman of Clacton Conservative Association is bullish about his party's prospects.

"I'm a businessman, I'm not investing all the this time to lose. We will win."

Whoever's chosen will find themselves lagging behind in the early polls. Douglas Carswell is a hot favourite but is taking nothing for granted.

Is the political tide on the turn in Clacton? Credit: ITV Anglia

So will this political in-fighting between the Tories and UKIP play into Labour's hands? Tim Young's their candidate - Born in Clacton, he hopes his commitment to his home town will pay dividends.

Tim Young, Labour candidate Credit: ITV Anglia

The Lib Dems acknowledge they're rank outsiders. They've pinned their faith in Andy Graham, an actor, theatre director and children's author.

Andy Graham, Lib Dem candidate for Clacton Credit: ITV Anglia

The Green Party has picked Clacton environmentalist Chris Southall to be their candidate.

Polling day is on October 9th.