VIDEO: Horsham Conservatives pick Jeremy Quin as General Election candidate

He currently lives in North Buckinghamshire with his wife, works as a company adviser, and was a Treasury official during the financial crisis.

He recently served a three-year term as chairman of the Buckingham Constituency Conservative Association, read History at Oxford University and is a past president of the Oxford Union.

Francis Maude announced in January he would not be restanding after 18 years as Horsham’s MP and tonight (Thursday March 12) members of the Horsham Conservative Association voted for his potential successor at the Drill Hall in Denne Road.

Speaking to the County Times Mr Quin said: “It’s a huge honour to have this extraordinary opportunity to be able to serve the people of this constituency as a Conservative party candidate.

“There’s a lot of work to be done for the campaign which is coming up very soon. I will be campaigning hard around the whole constituency and I look forward to meeting as many constituents as possible over the weeks to come.”

Horsham Conservative Association chairman Brad Watson added: “We are delighted to welcome Jeremy Quin as our prospective parliamentary candidate and the association members have made an excellent choice to take us forward.

“Jeremy Quin will make a brilliant Member of Parliament and we are all looking forward to working towards our goal of securing the Horsham seat for the next parliament.”

In 1997 Mr Quin stood as the Conservative parliamentary candidate in the Welsh constituency of Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, and according to website Conservative Home was shortlisted as a Tory candidate in South Suffolk, Bexhill and Battle, and Fareham.

Through his wife Joanna he has a connection to the Horsham area and described it as a ‘beautiful part of the world’.

The other two potential candidates on Thursday’s shortlist were Sibby Buckle, a community pharmacist from Northampton, and Rachel Joyce, a doctor from Hertfordshire.

Louise Mensch, author and former Tory MP, tweeted: “Jeremy Quin selected for Horsham how did I miss that! Look out Parliament! Incoming! Hooray!”

Charlie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover and Deal, also tweeted: “Fantastic news that Jeremy Quin has been selected as Conservative candidate for Horsham. He will be a brilliant MP.”

Mr Quin will be standing against UKIP’s Roger Arthur, Labour’s Martyn Davis, Darrin Green of the Green Party, Something New for Horsham’s James Smith, and independent Jim Rae. The Lib Dems have yet to announce a candidate.

More to follow.