MP fails re-adoption in Hertford & Stortford

Local MP Julie Marson has failed to win automatic reselection at a recent meeting of the Hertford & Stortford Conservative Association.

Grassroots Tory website Conservative Home reports that the vote was split, with 8 Executive members voting in favour of reselectiion and 7 against.

The website cites a local source suggesting that concerns over her attendance in the constituency played a part in the vote. Other issues include her expenses claims and the fact that she lives in Kent.

Ms. Marson was first elected in 2019 with a majority of 19,620 following the retirement of longstanding Conservative MP Mark Prisk.

Hertford & Stortford is regarded as a traditional Conservative safe seat and has been represented by the party since its inception in 1983. However, the website Electoral Calculus is predicting the seat will be taken by Labour at the next general election.

The vote will now go to the wider membership with a result expected in a couple of weeks.

Hertford & Stortford Conservative Association have issued a statement, sayting: "Following a secret ballot of the association executive council which was then counted by a CCHQ official, observed by an independent chairman and Julie herself, we were told that Julie had not been adopted as the parliamentary candidate. We were not told the figures. The decision on whether or not to adopt Julie Marson as their candidate is now up to the wider membership of the Hertford and Stortford Conservative association, which is as it should be."

Updated 6/4/23 to add statement from local Conservative Association.