THE Tories' 2005 candidate for West Lancs has been selected to fight the Chorley seat.
Alf Doran, who was beaten by Adrian Owens here just a few weeks ago, beat off four other contenders including, coincidentally, Thelma Matuk, who tried also to get West Lancs.
I'm not suprised Alf Doran has got a seat. In my article in last week's Advertiser, I predicted that he'd get a seat somewhere in the North West, and said that he was unlucky in West Lancs to be pitted against someone like Adrian Owens.
Adrian has been among the first to congratulate the Formby councillor, telling the Conservative Home blog: "Congratulations Alf. With the clear-focused Conservative council now in control in Chorley working with you, you stand a great chance."
Indeed, Adrian told me prior to my interview with him last week that the cycle of selection meetings is a gruelling process and despite the rivalry between them all, there is a genuine empathy for anyone who's trying to find a seat.
Strangely though, Doran faces a similar task in Chorley as does Owens in West Lancs. Both are fighting seats which are currently held by Labour with 6,000-plus majorities.
As I was telling somebody today, in all honesty, I can only see these types of seats changing hands if a) there's a Tory landside nationally or b) a really local issues-based campaigns.
We live in interesting times....
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