Former Ernst & Young partner John Howell has been selected as the Tory candidate for the Henley by-election, prompted by the election of Boris Johnson as London Mayor.
Howell was chosen from a shortlist of three and is likely to become the Henley MP at the next by-election, scheduled to take place late this month or early July, the Guardian reported. Henley is a safe Conservative seat, with Johnson's majority in 2005 standing at 12,793.
A party spokesman said: 'A successful businessman, he is leading the way in ensuring the county council is run more efficiently and in opposing the bulldozing of the green belt.'
Johnson is stepping down as MP to concentrate on his role as Mayor of London.
Howell said: 'I plan to spend the next few weeks talking to as many local people as possible about the issues that affect us all in South Oxfordshire'.
A cabinet member on Oxfordshire County Council, Howell was awarded an OBE in 2000.
Further reading:
Read the Guardian story: Tories select local councillor to fight Boris Johnson's Henley seat
Former E&Y partner charged with insider trading
Lobby group claims Tories entering "critical few months" for green credentials 14 May 2008
The Conservative mayoral candidate looks to the US for "innovative schemes" to encourage Londoners to up the ante on recycling 28 Mar 2008
Triggers by-election to stop "exposing our personal data to careless civil servants and criminal hackers" 12 Jun 2008
Green groups welcome move but say Boris Johnson must focus efforts on cutting carbon emissions 29 Aug 2008
But green groups accuse government of severely watering down legislation 10 Jun 2008
As delegates at African climate change conference are criticised for not offsetting, events management experts insist buying offsets should become standard practice 29 Aug 2008
Proposals to reduce traffic emissions by tweaking insurance options and tackling urban sprawl are on the drawing board 29 Aug 2008
New team to develop Treasury's green policy and manage new Clean Technology Fund 29 Aug 2008
More news
Recent claims from the oil giant's chief executive suggesting tar sand extraction is required to slow the shift to coal may have caught the eye, but as BusinessGreen.com discovers they do not make much sense 28 Aug 2008
With all eyes on the Democrats' convention this week, environmentalists are asking whether it will live up to the green claims of politicians 26 Aug 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
