BOB BLACKMAN, the borough's representative on the London Assembly, has been chosen as the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Harrow East.

Cllr Blackman, who is also deputy leader of Brent Council, was elected last night (Monday) at an historic open primary.

A selection meeting at St Michael and All Angels' church hall in Harrow Weald, was open to everyone registered to vote in the constituency as it will be at the next election, whether members of the party or not.

Cllr Blackman beat his opponents, fellow Brent councillor Dr Alan Mendoza and Mimi Harker, a member of Chiltern District Council in Buckinghamshire, by winning more than half the votes cast in the first round ballot.

His candidacy was then ratified by the members of Harrow East Conservative Association present at the hall in Bishop Ken Road.

The association had chosen to hold and open primary, one of a number of selection processes approved by party head office, in a bid to engage people in politics by making them more accessible and transparent.

Of those present, about 70 per cent were card-carrying Tories and the rest members of other parties or of none.

When Cllr Blackman challenges sitting Labour MP Tony McNulty at the next general election, Harrow East will be small than the present constituency.

Marlborough and Greenhill wards are being transferred to Harrow West, which is losing several wards in the north of the borough to a new constituency straddling the borough boundary to take in Pinner and Northwood.

charris@london.newsquest.co.uk