Annabel is Conservative choice to fight Bath seat
A former company director and engineering manager has been selected as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Bath. Annabel Tall was chosen by members of Bath Conservatives at a selection meeting in Bathwick on Wednesday evening. She now sets her sights on winning the seat back from Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who defeated Conservative Ben Howlett in the 2017 election. Ms Tall currently works as a constituency assistant to North Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox. Her priorities for Bath include boosting transport links, connectivity and business growth, protecting public services and promoting a fair society. The local party said she is a strong promoter of disabled children’s services, keen to protect vulnerable people and families and ensure they have access to education and social care. She said: “It’s a great honour to be selected as the Conservative candidate for Bath and I’m looking forward to meeting local residents and working hard to make their lives even better. “Bath is a wonderful city in which to live, work, study and visit and I’m determined to lead it towards an even brighter future. “Working with the excellent team of Conservatives locally, I will use my background in the public, private and charity sectors to make a positive difference for everybody in Bath.” Nick Tester, chairman of Bath Conservatives, said: “We had a high-quality list of candidates to choose from and were impressed by Annabel’s drive, determination and enthusiasm. Bath needs a strong voice in parliament and Annabel will be just that – ready to stand up for our city and its people.” Ms Tall was a director of an internet services company, based near Bath, and has worked as an engineering manager for British Gas. A former district councillor, she plans to use her close links with government departments for the benefit of residents in Bath. Labour is yet to choose its candidate and Mrs Hobhouse was recently re-selected to run again for the Liberal Democrats. However, Joe Rayment who finished third in the general election 2017 for Bath Labour, believes his party will pose the biggest threat to Mrs Hobhouse’s seat. “By selecting someone who supported the leadership campaign of the hardline Brexiteer, Liam Fox, Bath Conservatives have essentially shown that they have given up on Bath,” the B&NES Council member for Twerton said. “In the latest byelection in Bath, Labour pushed the Tories into third place. “It is now Labour who pose a real threat to the Lib Dems in Bath and we fully intend to beat them with our progressive and radical message of hope.” The Green Party has selected Dominic Tristram – who ran for the party in 2015 – as its prospective parliamentary candidate for Bath. Mr Tristram said: “Given the Tory mismanagement of both our council and our Government, I was unsurprised to hear the Conservatives had to go as far afield as Yatton to find a candidate to stand in Bath. “I wish Annabel the best of luck in getting to know Bath, its unique issues and its people given how different it is to Bristol West where she stood in 2017. “I think people have had about enough of career politicians with no connection to their constituencies they seek to represent, but the Conservatives don’t seem to be learning this lesson. The electorate deserve to be represented by someone from their community who has a real stake in it, not just a desire for a seat in parliament. “I know Annabel has family with additional needs and has experience in that area, so I am somewhat astonished she feels the Conservative party is anything but a force working against provision for their needs.” Mrs Hobhouse unseated Ben Howlett in last summer’s election, who became Bath’s first Tory MP for 23 years two years previously, after securing 17,833 votes. He polled nearly the same in the 2017 general election but a large swing to the Liberal Democrats saw the party take back control of the seat. Mrs Hobhouse’s majority is 5,694 votes. Mr Howlett ruled himself out of standing again in Bath last month. Four Conservatives held the city’s seat in the 20th century: Loel Guinness 1931-45, Sir James Pitman 1945-64, Sir Edward Brown 19641979 and Chris Patten 1979-1992.
I will use my background in public, private and charity sectors to make a positive difference for everybody in Bath