West Oxfordshire Conservatives select a lawyer to contest former PM David Cameron’s safe seat in October by-election
Tory die-hards choose Robert Courts after uproar over revelations that a Tory aide may replace Cam
TORY die-hards in West Oxfordshire selected a lawyer and local councillor to replace David Cameron in one of the country's safest Commons seats.
Robert Courts, a district councillor and barrister, will fight the Witney by-election next month - but is almost guaranteed to be their next MP.
He specialises in personal injury claims.
His selection was overshadowed by uproar from furious local after The Sun’s revelations that well-liked local figures have been blocked from replacing Mr Cameron in a Tory HQ stitch-up.
The by-election will be held next month, with the Conservatives almost certain to hold the true blue seat.
Other wannabe Tories from around the country were also blocked from applying for the seat.
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Oxfordshire power broker and Tory peer Lord de Mauley was supporting local party boss David McFarlane — writing to all members to urge them to vote for this “hugely experienced person in all the aspects of life”.
But Mr McFarlane was vetoed from standing by Westminster party chiefs, along with popular local council boss James Mills.
One local insider said: “People here are deeply upset and really rather cross.”
Hundreds of members of the West Oxfordshire Conservative Association met at a church in Witney for a private meeting to grill the candidates.
Mr Courts, 37, lives with his wife, Kathryn, and his son, Henry, in Bladon, Woodstock.
Last night he said: “For the last 15 years we have had a brilliant MP and public servant in David Cameron and it is wonderful that he and his family plan to stay local.
“I believe it is vital that Witney and West Oxfordshire residents continue to have a strong local voice in Parliament and I will work tirelessly to ensure that residents’ views and concerns are heard."