South East Cambridgeshire could have a brilliant woman MP if, hopefully, the new Conservative candidate Lucy Frazer QC wins the next general election.

Lucy, deputy chair of Hampstead and Kilburn Conservative Association, was today selected as the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate following the retirement of our excellent and highly respected MP Sir James Paice.

But choosing his successor was a tough call and  there was a shock result after the first round of voting when Paul Bristow, the ‘local’ candidate, was eliminated. Voting went to three rounds and I was told that sparky businesswoman Heidi Allenwho has a degree in astrophysics had won the first two rounds, but lost in the third round to Lucy; the winning candidate had to secure more than 50% of the votes.

What makes Lucy outstanding? The youthful 44-year-old who has two children, is highly intelligent and in 1993 she became one of the few women Presidents of Cambridge Union Society; the previous woman who held this position was Clare Balding.  While studying law at Newnham College, Lucy won a college prize for academic achievement. Both her sisters left school at 16 and she was the only child in her family to go to university. All this is truly inspirational.

Lucy specialises in business law and states on her profile that she recently won an unwinnable case worth £1 million, stating, “I know how to fight for a cause and win through strategy, persistence, advocacy and negotiation.”

She is also one of the youngest women QCs in the country, a position itself which is incredibly hard to achieve. She has represented our Home Secretary Theresa May on a number of cases, including immigration to insolvency, and her vast legal knowledge and experience of business and education demonstrate that she will be a fantastic asset to her constituents – there could be nobody better equipped to fight their cause.

Education Secretary Michael Gove gave Lucy a glowing testament, saying, “She will fight for SE Cambridgeshire with passion and judgement. She is one of the future stars of the Conservative Party.” I believe she has the calibre to be in the Cabinet, a rising star indeed.

Lucy, who grew up in Yorkshire is also down-to-earth, telling us she has also worked in a factory and a nail bar. “I can make a superb case to the Supreme Court and an even better sticky toffee pudding. I will  bring the real life experience of the working world that is in short supply in politics.”

I do commiserate with Heidi who gave an outstanding performance. I voted for both women at different parts of the selection process as I was torn between them. I wish Heidi every success with her search for a parliamentary seat. Please don’t give up!!

Finalists Charlotte Vere and Paul Bristow were very impressive candidates too, they did nothing wrong, we were just spoilt for choice.

*The Economist reports on the constituency and election apathy.

*This was my constituency, but boundary change proposals have placed my Cambridgeshire village in North East Cambs.

*Update 7 January. Oh no, how could this have happened? I shall be at Friday’s meeting which decides whether Lucy or Heidi is the correct parliamentary candidate, or should a second selection process take place?