The Conservative A-List, also called Priority List, was a list of United Kingdom candidates drawn up by Conservative Central Office at the behest of David Cameron following his election as party leader in December 2005, aimed as a means of broadening the number of Conservative Members of Parliament, potential peers and MEPs from minority groups and women as well as other preferred candidates for candidature. Where the preferred forums for selection were held, at least two members from the list were put to every open primary, and where these were not held the A-list were recommended directly, particularly to the top target seats.
Cameron Cutie was a term used for female candidates.
History In April 2006, a Conservative Party committee on candidates set out to deliver a promise by David Cameron to transform the Conservative party at Westminster. The committee reduced 500 aspiring politicians on the party's list of approved parliamentary candidates to an "A-list" of between 100 and 150 priority candidates.Will Woodward and Tania Branigan, "The A-list: new leader's drive for women and minority candidates" in The Guardian, 19 April 2006 The result was a list on which more than half of the names were of women. The list included the former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt, Zac Goldsmith, the author Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), and Margot James.Will Woodward, chief political correspondent, "Former soap star on Cameron's A-list of Tory candidates" in The Guardian, 11 May 2006
Amid controversy, the "A-list" approach was endorsed by Michael Portillo, a Conservative MP until 2005, who in 2006 said that Conservative chairmen and activists in seats considered potentially winnable were in the run-up to the 2010 election urged by Conservative Central Office to select candidates from the new A-list and were in many cases included in open primaries, new and preferred open-to-all selection meetings.A-list 'not snubbing' NE England dated 20 October 2006 at bbc.co.uk
The 2010 general election saw failures as well as successes for the "A-listers" selected for 'winnable' seats.
Listed Those on the A-list included the following: (bold marks people elected to Parliament in 2010.Rosemary Bennett, "The A-list" in The Times dated 12 June 2006, at timesonline.co.ukWho is on the A-list? at conservativehome web siteConservative A-List and selections dated 4 June 2006 at colin-ross.org.uk )
Amar Ahmed, a GP in Cheshire since 2000 and was National Chairman Conservative Policy Forum, Public Sector and Infrastructure, 2011–2015. Tariq Ahmad, life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present Louise Bagshawe (later Mensch), MP for Corby, 2010–2012 Shaun Bailey, children's worker, PPC for Hammersmith 2010, candidate for Mayor of London, 2021, life peer in the House of Lords, 2023–present Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, 2010–present Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, 2010–present Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, 2010–2017 James Bethell, a founder of the Ministry of Sound; hereditary peer in the House of Lords, 2018–present Nick Boles, MP for Grantham and Stamford, 2010–2019 Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, 2010–present Angie Bray, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, 2010–2015 Steve Brine, MP for Winchester, 2010–2024 Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, 2010–2024 Dr. David Bull, television presenter, PPC for Brighton Pavilion, 2010; Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020 Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, 2010–2024 Georgina Butler, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Costa Rica Martin Callanan, MEP for North East England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2014–present Joanne Cash, barrister, PPC for Westminster North 2010 Pamela Chesters London Assembly Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, 2010–2024 Tim Collins, former MP Charles Crawford, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Poland Iain Dale, blogger Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, 2010–present Jane Ellison, MP for Battersea, 2010–2017 Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, Entrepreneur of the Year — the Black Enterprise Awards 2005, PPC Chippenham 2010 Howard Flight, former MP, life peer in the House of Lords, 2011–present Vicky Ford, MEP for East of England, MP for Chelmsford, 2017–2024 Jacqueline Foster, MEP for North West England, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, 2010–present David Gold, PPC for Eltham 2010 Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, 2010–2016, 2017–2019, life peer in the House of Lords, 2020–present Francois Gordon, former High Commissioner to Uganda Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, 2010–2024; MP for Maidstone and Malling, 2024–present Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton, 2010–2019 Sam Gyimah, MP for East Surrey, 2010–2019 Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, 2010–present Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, 2010–2024 Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, 2010–2019 Syed Kamall, MEP for London, life peer in the House of Lords, 2021–present Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, 2010–2024 Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire, 2010–2024 Dr. Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, 2010–2019 Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, 2010–2024 Group Captain Al Lockwood Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, 2010–2024 Kit Malthouse, Member of the London Assembly, MP for North West Hampshire 2015–present Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North, 2010–2024 Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk and Malton, 2010–2015 Esther McVey, MP for Wirral West, 2010–2015 and Tatton, 2017–present Mark Menzies, MP for Fylde, 2010–2024 Priti Patel,Robin Brant, A year on, has the A-list worked? at BBC.co.uk dated December 2006 MP for Witham, 2010–present Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby, 2010–2024 Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, 2010–2024 Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment, life peer in the House of Lords since 2023 Annunziata Rees-Mogg, journalist, PPC for Somerton and Frome, 2010, Brexit Party MEP, 2019–2020 Adam Rickitt, actor and singer Caroline Righton, presenter, PPC for St Austell and Newquay, 2010 Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, 2010–2019 Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet South, 2010–2015 Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire Council, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe, 2010–2019 Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, 2010–2024 Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, 2010–present Philippa Stroud, Director of the Centre for Social Justice, life peer in the House of Lords, 2015–present Liz Truss, MP for South West Norfolk, 2010–2024; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, September–October 2022 Sayeeda Warsi, life peer in the House of Lords, 2007–present Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, 2010–2024 Susan Williams, life peer in the House of Lords, 2013–present
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