Guildford Tories Choose Angela Richardson to Stand in General Election

Published on: 7 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2019

Angela Richardson the newly selected Conservative candidate for Guildford

The new Guildford Conservative Parliamentary candidate is Angela Richardson, a parish councillor who lives in Ewhurst and a former deputy chair of the Guildford Conservative Association.

The selection was decided this evening (November 7) at a well-attended meeting at the Harbour Hotel of the Guildford Conservative Association, traditionally responsible for candidate selection.

Bob Hughes, the GCA chairman, a long-term ally and friend of Anne Milton, whose expulsion from the Tory Party led to this selection, is overseas. In his absence, it was expected that well-known local party member Matt Furniss, currently the deputy chairman (political), would preside but instead, a party official from Hampshire, believed to be Andrew Henderson, oversaw proceedings.

Corroborated reports indicate the GCA Executive was unhappy with the way the shortlist had been selected. National and regional officers were able to outvote local representatives, although two of the three candidates were local.

Members who asked why the selection had been so rushed when it had been known for several days that Ms Milton would stand as an Independent were told the situation “was not clear” until Ms Milton wrote to the chief whip on Monday.

The Executive is also said to have felt they had little choice because if they had rejected the shortlist, a single candidate could have been imposed by national Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly.

In the event, Ms Richardson’s presentation outshone the other two potential candidates, winning in the first round by a margin more than 50% of the vote and it is felt that the GCA is unlikely to pursue any complaint.

She told the meeting she had voted Leave in the EU referendum and said she would not vote to further extend the transition period, which went down well with most members.

Ms Richardson has worked in investment banking, at Schroders and Axa Investment Managers. As well as Conservative activism and campaigning, she fundraises for local charities. Her past Conservative Home articles can be read here. She was a finalist in Canterbury.

The second contender was Andrew Colborne-Baber, a former chairman of the Guildford Conservative Association, present vice-president of the National Conservative Convention and member of the Conservative Party Board and the party’s membership committee.

He is the owner of The Bear Garden, the popular specialist collectable teddy bear shop in the town’s Jeffries Passage, a business he founded in 1992.

Surprisingly, he is reported to have admitted to the meeting that he was not on the party list of approved Parliamentary candidates. Dragon sources say members were puzzled by how he been allowed on the shortlist.

The third possible candidate was Ben Obese-Jecty, a former British Army officer who served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since leaving the Army, he spent seven years as a project manager for JP Morgan, most recently on the bank’s Brexit strategy. He serves as deputy chairman (political) of Hornsey and Wood Green Conservative Association.

Responses to Guildford Tories Choose Angela Richardson to Stand in General Election

Jim Allen Reply

November 8, 2019 at 12:00 am

Is that correct she would vote to extend the period. My information is she would NOT vote for an extension of the EU membership transition period.

Editor’s note: Apologies, especially to Anne Richardson, one version of the story incorrectly omitted the word “not” and this was corrected as quickly as possible.
Stuart Barnes Reply

November 8, 2019 at 9:32 am

It seems the best choice in the circumstances. But it is worrying that the useless types at HQ still wish to interfere. Clearly, there is still some way to go for Boris to “drain the swamp”.

After carrying out that task at HQ perhaps Boris might give some thought also to draining the swamp at the almost unbelievably biased BBC – not to mention Channel 4?

Now we must see if Mrs Richardson’s views on Brexit are good enough for the Brexit Party to give her a clear run.
Brian Cahill Reply

November 8, 2019 at 11:14 am

The recent past is a mess and but now that Anne Milton has understandably cut her ties after the appalling way she has been treated by the government, we need to put it behind us and be fully behind this local candidate in what is going to be difficult election. It has to be party and policy first, despite personal loyalty and sympathy.
Shelley Grainger Reply

November 10, 2019 at 12:59 pm

I’m appalled to see a Conservative supporter (or member) using the phrase “drain the swamp”, echoing the words of the most corrupt President in US history, Donald Trump.

Angela Richardson says she would not vote for another extension. This makes one suspect that if they get a majority, the Conservatives will try to allow No Deal to happen. Or perhaps they are merely pretending they will to attract back the voters who are fed up of their three years of failure and are heading far-right?

How can the voters trust them?

Whichever aim is their true one, this Parliament made it clear that it would not tolerate such a damaging exit and I hope very much that the next Parliament will stop No-Deal too.

No doubt, with her banker’s background, Ms Richardson will be cushioned from the effects of an economic downturn resulting from a poor exit from the EU, but the residents of Guildford will not.

As ever, the Conservatives put themselves first, the country second. And they have the audacity to call themselves patriots.

Shelley Grainger is the secretary of Guildford Labour
Damon Walker Reply

November 12, 2019 at 9:03 am

I have been a Conservative supporter all my life – be assured, had Anne Milton been allowed to stand as the Conservative candidate I would for the first time in my life have either abstained or voted for the Brexit party (assuming a candidate stood).

Mrs Richardson’s endorsement ensures one less vote is not migrating or lost – Ms Milton needs to understand that we, the electorate, put her in the Houses of Parliament and one thing is for certain, core Conservative voters despise betrayal of the leader and party’s consensus.
Patricia Canning Reply

November 12, 2019 at 12:59 pm

I think that the Conservative publicity machine needs to pull its act together and start campaigning for Angela Richardson if she is to be our new Conservative MP. I had to use the internet to gain any information as to who would be our candidate.

With Ann Milton now in opposition to the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats always a danger, it will be a hard-fought battle. Conservative campaigners need to get out on the doorsteps, deliver their literature, and show some desperately needed fire and enthusiasm for their cause.

There seems to be far too much complacency regarding this matter.
Ray Mitchell Reply

November 12, 2019 at 6:07 pm

At least this Candidate lives reasonably local to Guildford. It galls me when parties move candidates to stand in “safe seats” when they have no idea about the actual constituency they are trying to be elected to serve.
Ross Connell Reply

November 13, 2019 at 2:44 am

I dare say that Angela Richardson is one of the “Get Brexit done” brigade, especially as she does not favour extending the transition period.

As it is implausible that a Free Trade Agreement can be negotiated with the EU by the end of 2020, this effectively means the UK will end up leaving on WTO terms with a resultant plethora of increased tariffs.

“Get Brexit done” is a simplistic and naive slogan that ignores the complexities of leaving the EU responsibly.
Lisa Wright Reply

November 13, 2019 at 5:22 pm

I don’t know anything about Ms Richardson. I’ve never seen her at a council meeting or read anything from her either.

So, where does she stand on our pollution, congestion, GP and hospital waiting times, poor roads, overcrowded trains, Heathrow expansion, environmental concerns, Guildford and Waverley Local Plans, flooding, employment, education, social care for our young and old?

The lack of information is very poor. At least I know where I stand with Anne Milton. Ms Richardson seems to be have been selected in Guildford for just one reason and that’s not good enough for me and my family. Let’s face it, we’ll end up with a Lib Dem coalition anyway.
Jane Lilley (Mrs) Reply

November 27, 2019 at 6:57 am

We have had no flyers or any literature through the post down here in Ellens Green from the Conservative candidate but lots from every other party.

We would like to know Angela Richardson’s opinion on Brexit and HS2 as our vote depends on those answers.

Editor’s note: You might like to see our interview with Angela Richardson.