This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/7199004.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Widdecombe successor being chosen Widdecombe's successor is chosen
(about 7 hours later)
Nine people hoping to succeed Ann Widdecombe as Tory candidate for Maidstone and the Weald have been questioned by local party members. Conservative party members have chosen the parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald who will succeed Ann Widdecombe.
Miss Widdecombe announced her intention to stand down from the Kent seat at the next general election last October. Miss Widdecombe will stand down from the Kent seat at the next general election after 20 years in the post.
As part of the selection process, the candidates were also grilled by Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You panellist, Ian Hislop. As part of the selection process, nine candidates were grilled by Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You panellist, Ian Hislop.
The local Conservative association will announce its choice of successor later. Helen Grant beat off competition from the eight other hopefuls.
Miss Widdecombe, 60, has been the area's MP for 20 years, and has become notorious for her tough and hard-hitting political style. Miss Widdecombe, 60, announced her decision to stand down last October.
She has become notorious for her tough and hard-hitting political style as an MP.
Three womenThree women
Once the process to find a prospective parliamentary candidate to replace her was set in motion, The Maidstone and The Weald Conservative Association received 98 applications for the position, with 22 candidates selected for interview in December.Once the process to find a prospective parliamentary candidate to replace her was set in motion, The Maidstone and The Weald Conservative Association received 98 applications for the position, with 22 candidates selected for interview in December.
The figure was then cut down to 11 - nine candidates and two reserves - to go forward to Sunday's "Big Event". Three of them are women. The figure was then cut down to 11 - nine candidates and two reserves - to go forward to Sunday's "Big Event".
Since their selection, they have all been meeting the general public in Maidstone and holding discussions with local voluntary organisations, business groups, parish councils and residents associations. The final choice of who will succeed Miss Widdecombe was made by an executive council composed of councillors and representatives from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells wards in the constituency.
The final choice of who will succeed Miss Widdecombe will be made by an executive council composed of councillors and representatives from the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells wards in the constituency, and announced on Sunday evening.