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AS I've revealed in this week's Advertiser, the race is now on to become West Lancashire's next Conservative parliamentary candidate.
Personally, I think the best way forward to have open primaries for all candidates for every party.
They are a good idea of engaging with the public early on - something which is crucial to a successful election campaign. Of course, they are open to abuse by opposition parties but I reckon the benefits outweigh the potential risks involved.
I can remember the uproar in the local Labour Party when an all-women shortlist was announced for those who were vying for Colin Pickthall's seat. If the Tories went for the same option, which they have been given the option of, then it would probably end up with mutiny in the ranks.
There's actually quite a myth about all-women shortlists in that it's only the men who moan about them. One female Labour member told me at the time of the last selection process: "What kind of selection immediately discounts half of your membership in one go? It's political suicide."
And so back to the Tories, who now have to find someone who can beat Labour and the general election polls for the first time in 20-plus years. They're past masters at it in the locals, so what's gone wrong?
Any party which wants to win an election has to reach outside it's own comfort zone. And by this, I'm talking about going deep into opposition territory. There's no point in the Conservatives patting themselves on the back at their strong rural vote or Labour congratulating itself on their rock-solid domination of Skelmersdale - elections are won by taking your opponent's prized areas.
When Labour controlled the district, they held Halsall and the now defunct Lathom seat. Not Labour heartland but they were the key to power.
Labour's general election success has much to do with the strength of their Aughton/Burscough/Ormskirk vote - even though this is now True Blue territory!
The Conservatives, on the other hand, will have their sights on those three but they have to do more in the likes of Up Holland (which they nearly snatched from Labour last month) and even Skelmersdale. It's folly to discount Skem in a general election as it doesn't matter where the votes come from, a vote from Tarleton is just as important as a vote from Tanhouse.
Of course, national politics plays a massive part and for that reason, there's only so much the local party can do. So it'll be interesting to see what the ratings are for Brown and Cameron this time next year. By then, we'll have a much better understanding of how things may pan out.
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