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VOTERS will signal the beginning of the end of Sir Nicholas Winterton’s political career by selecting his possible successor in a fortnight’s time.

Local Conservative grandees finally whittled more than 100 candidates down to half a dozen shortlisted names, during a private meeting attended by more than 50 people at Macclesfield Town Hall on Monday night (September 28). Macclesfield’s maverick MP, who is 71, steps down at the next election after 37 years representing Maxonians in Parliament.

And now The Express offers a first glimpse of those in the running to fill Sir Nick’s boots when the final election is opened out to Macclesfield voters on October 17.

They do not include former UN Commander Colonel Bob Stewart, who lived in Macclesfield before joining the army, or former North West Tonight presenter Merryn Myatt. Local candidates such as Cheshire East Councillor Darryl Beckford have also been overlooked.

The shortlist consists of: Victoria Atkins, a young London barrister, Fiona Bruce, a Warrington-based solicitor, Nicholas Gleave, former deputy chief of staff to ex-Party leader William Hague, Sheila Lawlor, Cambridge-based historian and director of an economic and social thinktank, David Rutley, former St Albans Conservative candidate and director at Asda, and David Senior, experienced manager and former Cambridge law scholar.

"It is a new era and it dawns on Saturday, October 17," said David Freear, chairman of Macclesfield Conservative Association.

"We believe they are candidates who can excite voters. They all need to be able to engage and will do it in their own way. The meeting was packed.

"Each got about half an hour. They gave a presentation and then were questioned quite intensively, and we were all happy with the outcome.

"They have all got their own strengths – some were rousers, others more thoughtful."Anyone eligible to vote can help select the next Conservative candidate for Macclesfield by pre-registering for the election, at Fallibroome High School’s performance hall on Saturday, October 17.

See this week's Express to see the candidates' CVs, and see next week’s Express for details on how to register.