Cameron backs down over 'A-list'

David Cameron has bowed to pressure from internal party critics of his controversial A-list of would-be MPs by agreeing that local favourites can be selected as candidates for by-election battles.

The change will be seen as a setback for the Conservative leader's efforts to persuade local parties to pick more women and candidates from ethnic minorities, as well as a reverse in his drive to get more high-profile "stars" into winnable target seats.

Many Conservative Associations have defied requests from the party's leadership to pick candidates from the 100-strong list - now being expanded to 200 - of whom half are female.

In the recent Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, activists preferred white, male barrister Bob Neill over a woman and an Asian candidate from the A-list.

Mr Cameron said that in future by-elections, Conservative Central Office would work with local associations to draw up a shortlist made up both of local people and A-list members

His announcement came as he confirmed that he had written to individuals on the A-list - who include former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickett and environmentalist Zac Goldsmith - warning them that they must apply for constituencies which become available, rather than waiting for plum safe seats to come up.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Mr Cameron said: "One thing I am going to do is reform our selection of candidates for by-elections, so we can clear up any confusion there might be.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that when we have a by-election we have a priority list - an A-list, if you like - for that by-election and that should include candidates who may be on the priority list, who may be on the general list that we have. It may include local candidates who have never thought about being politicians before.

"That list should be drawn up by Central Office on the one hand and the constituency on the other. It may include as few as two or three candidates and then it will be voted on by the local party and they will choose the actual candidate.

"We can then clear up that all candidates going forward for a by-election are, in effect, A-list priority candidates, whether they have been on a list before or not."