More than 60,000 people are being given a “unique opportunity” to choose an election candidate for Westminster.
The Scottish Conservatives are holding an open primary in the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency to select a person “with real resonance and greater appeal” to fight the party’s corner in the 2015 General Election.
Every person eligible to vote in the area – all 66,110 of them – can register to take part in the selection process, along with local party members.
Parliamentary candidates are normally chosen by party members living in the constituency but the Tories believe involving the public would make the process more democratic and help “restore confidence in public life”.
Adverts will be placed in local newspapers inviting “electors” to pre-register for a hustings meeting which will be held in the constituency next year.
Those attending will be given a vote at the end of the event once the various applicants – selected by the party – are quizzed on their suitability for selection.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said yesterday: “This is a unique opportunity for the public to have a bigger say in the democratic process.
“The party is changing and we want candidates who have real resonance in the communities they serve.
“Parliamentary candidates are normally chosen by local party members, but we are opening up the selection process to thousands of people in the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency.
“We believe that by holding an open primary contest, candidates with a greater appeal will be selected to stand for election.
“The party still decides who gets on the initial shortlist, but people in the constituency will then get the chance to give their verdict on who they want as their candidate.
“We hope this new selection process will be embraced by voters, while making politics more transparent and helping to restore confidence in public life.”