Tory candidates are determined to run again, survey finds

Almost 90% of defeated Conservative candidates have already decided to run again, or are leaning towards it, a new survey has found - showing how the party can rebuild from its worst-ever election defeat.

“Hundreds of ex-candidates who we expected to be cowering in holes after the election – or even toying with Reform – are actually champing at the bit to go again,” said Grant Shapps, former defence secretary and co-chairman of Conservatives Together, which conducted the survey. “They can sense how shallow and brittle Starmer’s majority is, and they want to help demolish it.”

“This isn’t just about bringing back familiar faces – it’s about renewal,” said Grant Shapps. “The commitment from those who haven’t yet been in Parliament shows the strength of our grassroots movement. The next election won’t just be fought by veterans but by passionate new voices ready to shape Britain’s future."

Conservatives Together, set up by Shapps and Conservative peer Lord Kempsell, surveyed all unsuccessful Conservative candidates from the 2024 election. Almost 60 per cent replied, with 70 per cent of respondents saying they had definitely decided to run again and a further 19 per cent leaning that way.

“Some ex-MPs do want to return,” said Alex Clarkson, a founding member of Conservatives Together who stood as a candidate for the first time in Stevenage, “but the real story is the huge number of candidates like me who were trying for their first or second time in 2024 and who want to run again. We’re bringing fresh energy, fresh ideas, fresh perspectives. There’s real optimism here about Britain’s potential, and we’re determined to deliver it.”

The data suggest a story of fresh faces keen to renew and drive the party at the next election:- More fresh faces than returning MPs: A striking 81.25% of non-MPs (candidates who weren’t MPs defending their seats) have already decided to run again, nearly twice the figure among former MPs (43.18%).

The finding suggests that a fresh new cohort is ready to drive the party at the next election.- 96% of new candidates likely to run again: Non-MP candidates who responded to our survey were more enthusiastic about running again than former MPs; 95.67% of non-MP candidates are definitely or ‘leaning towards’ reapplying to stand at the next election, as opposed to just 72% of former MPs.

Very few have ruled out running again: Across the entire group, only 3.72% of respondents (11 out of 296) have decided against running again. Among non-MPs, the percentage is even lower – just 0.48% (1 person) compared to 11.36% of former MPs. This could signal that ex-MPs may feel more disillusioned or cautious.

94% already have a sense of whether to run again or not: Just 5.74% of all respondents remain unsure (answering "not sure either way"). This shows that over 94% have a stance on their future – a notable level of decisiveness considering the scale of the 2024 defeat.

Research after the last election lost by the Conservatives, in 2005, showed that early selection of candidates, especially when they have experience of standing, is a strategic asset.

Previous experience of being a candidate resulted in an extra 0.9 per cent swing to the Conservatives on average, compared to a control group. A candidate with previous experience in the same seat achieved an average extra 2.1 per cent swing.

Remarkably, being selected four years ahead of an election appears to have the same “swing benefit” as incumbency.

Shapps said: “Just six months after the election disaster, candidates’ strong level of enthusiasm reflects their commitment – and their readiness for early selection. We should avoid the scramble for seats that the party saw last June.”

“These people believe passionately in our country and in the value of public service. They include men and women from all walks of life, all parts of Britain. They’ve got a vision for the future of Britain and a dogged determination to deliver it.“That’s why we set up Conservatives Together, and we’ll be with them all the way.”

The survey, conducted throughout November 2024, asked 529 unsuccessful Conservative parliamentary candidates from the 2024 General Election “Are you planning to run for P

arliament?”

We're not part of CCHQ, but we're here to support Conservative candidates. Anyone interested in running for Parliament as a Conservative can let us know at https://www.conservativestogether.org/#standingagain