New Tory chaos as they abandon selection for safe seat targeted by Boris Johnson
EXCLUSIVE: The Tories have abandoned the selection for the safe seat of Henley because of complaints about the selection process in a row which has dragged in former BBC director general Lord Hall.
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The Conservatives are facing a fresh humiliation after they were forced to abandon the selection process for a much sought-after safe seat which Boris Johnson was said to be targeting.
The Henley seat, which had become vacant because MP John Howell is stepping down, had been targeted by a number of high-profile hopefuls.
It is understood that the constituency chairman and former BBC director general Lord Hall's son William Hall was selected but a number of complaints were made by people who failed to get on to the shortlist about the process.
Conservative sources have said that one complaint came from former Olympic rower James Cracknell.
A CCHQ source said that the process was being rerun because of a "breach of confidentiality".
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A message went around to prospective candidates from the director of candidates Matt Lane and chief of staff to the chairman of the candidates committee Gareth Fox saying: "I write to inform you that due to breaches of the parliamentary candidate selection process, the party board have this afternoon decided to abandon the current selection process of the Heleny constituency.
"This vacancy will be readvertised in due course."
At the last election Mr Howell had a majority of 14,053 down almnost 8,000 from 2017.
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Nevertheless, it was targeted by a number of high profile Conservative prospective candidates including former Downing Street special advisers.
Mr Johnson's decision to move back to the Cotswolds had led to speculation he wanted to return as the MP for his old seat.
However, it is understood that in the end he did not put his name forward for a contest which came in the immediate aftermath of the Partygate Privileges Committee report.
A rerun of the selection could see him throw his hat into the ring again.