Conservative party announce North Shropshire by-election candidate

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst has been selected by party members in North Shropshire to be the Conservative candidate in the upcoming North Shropshire by-election.

Dr Shastri-Hurst is a former British Army Medical Officer and honorary NHS consultant who presently works as a barrister. Following the announcement, he said he was “thrilled” to have been selected.

The by-election follows the resignation of Conservative MP Owen Paterson, who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying. Paterson had held the constituency, a Conservative stronghold, since 1997.

The by-election is set to take place on 16 December.

This comes following Kirsty Walmsley’s selection as the Reform UK party candidate for the seat.