Over 200 local Conservative Party Members from the Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association have chosen local resident Tim Barnes as their candidate for the upcoming General Election. Tim will succeed Nickie Aiken MP as the Conservative choice following her decision to stand down for family reasons.
Tim lives and works in Westminster. He is a former councillor for West End ward and was Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning, overseeing Westminster's schools, libraries, and Children's Services.
An active local campaigner, he is Deputy Chairman of the Association. Tim lives in Soho having first moved to Fitzrovia as a student at UCL nearly 30 years ago and has never wanted to move away from the centre of London.
He works as a charity CEO based near Aldwych, working to help people to start businesses for the first time, many coming from disadvantaged areas or underprivileged backgrounds. He has worked in start-up support and universities for many years and is particularly focused on education, skills and supporting local businesses.
Speaking at the meeting, Tim Barnes set out his immediate campaign priorities. Tim said:
“It is a tremendous honour to have been selected as your candidate for Cities of London and Westminster. I have lived here for most of my adult life and Westminster is my home.
"I look forward to working hard and building the trust and support of voters across our constituency as the strong local choice.
"We need someone who understands and feels the issues of this area in the way that only someone who lives here can.
"My work as candidate begins immediately. We will work on the big issues residents tell me concern them most, such as crime, the cost of living, affordable homes, e-bikes and opportunities for young people.
"Since the start of 2024, I have campaigned in every ward of Westminster as well as the City of London, knocking on doors right across the constituency to hear what people have to say.
"This week, we hope to see the Pedicabs Bill through its final stages and that will show us starting as we mean to go on - with hard work delivering real results for the people who live and work in the Cities of London and Westminster."
