A councillor and lawyer from Surrey – Jonathan Hulley - has been chosen to stand for the Conservatives in Twickenham at the next General Election.

There were no local candidates on a shortlist of two people who took part in a party hustings event held recently.

He will be taking on the sitting Lib-Dem MP, Munira Wilson, who was elected in 2019 with a majority of over 14,000.

The fact the Conservative party was unable to find a local candidate was highlighted by the Lib-Dem leader of Richmond Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Roberts, on social media.

In response, Mr Hulley said he would put in place steps to ensure he is on the electoral roll – with a property – in the constituency before the General Election.

He said he is currently the 'parliamentary spokesman for Twickenham' and will be formally adopted as the candidate once changes to the constituency boundary, which involves moving Whitton out into Brentford & Isleworth, are confirmed.

The change to the boundary, which has been opposed by many local residents and Munira Wilson, is seen as giving the Conservatives a better chance of success.

The solicitor, who describes himself as a 'Rishi man' was selected after his predecessor, Emma Ware, was forced to step aside due to ill-health.

Mr Hulley, aged 52, was brought up in South Africa before coming to the UK as an adult.

He told Nub News: "I was born and brought up in Cape Town, but I moved over here 20+ years ago and have been a solicitor since 2009. I am proud of the background, but I am very much a proud citizen as well."

He described himself as a Londoner at heart, although he has lived in Surrey since 2009.

Mr Hulley pointed to an article on the Conservative Home website, saying: "I think they described me in this article as 'all-round impressive … plenty of professional experience, plenty of local government experience, of course, and also campaigning experience'."

My Hulley said he has ties to Twickenham as a lawyer specialising in social housing, while his wife, Linda, has worked in the area for many years.

He said: "I have social housing clients who are based in the constituency who I have worked closely with for many years, so I am a regular professional visitor the area.

"Social housing would be a key campaigning plank of mine, given I have spent 20 years in the provision of social housing and affordable housing in greater London."

Mr Hulley spent a day at the public planning inquiry into the Twickenham Riverside development, which will include 21 affordable homes. The one Conservative on Richmond Borough Council, Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, has opposed the way the scheme is being pursued.

Asked about his stance on the scheme, Mr Hulley said: "I haven't come down on one side of the other just yet. I am in a learning phase.

"I haven't made a decision on whether I support it just yet, that will come later," he said.

Asked about his Lib-Dem opponent, he said: "I don't know Munira as an individual, but I have respect for her and the work she does.

"But, of course, I would suggest I have the professional background, local government experience, energy and vitality that I would bring to the role of MP."

Mr Hulley is currently a councillor on both Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey County Council.

He said the General Election is some time off, adding: "There is plenty of time for me to become local through campaigning and championing the big issues that matter to the people of Twickenham.

"I will also be on the electoral roll, so I will have residency by the time of the next General Election. I don't think the fact I don't yet live in the constituency matters.

"I will – dare I say – become relevant to voters over time by demonstrating my commitment to the residents of Twickenham."

He said he will consider the detail as to whether he ends up having two homes, one in Surrey and a second in Twickenham, 'closer to the time'.

Nub News asked Mr Hulley on his thoughts as to how the Conservative party can re-build in the area.

"I think the rebuild starts with a renewed effort to make ourselves relevant again in the lives of Twickenham residents," he said.

"The way we make ourselves relevant again is to show there are strong and committed community champions within the Conservative family in Twickenham.

"There is a lot of experience of Conservatives getting under the skin and leading on local campaigns. There needs to be renewed energy on that.

"I don't think we have put forward our message in – dare I say – in an energetic and committed way. There is a lot that we can talk about in relation to what could be done better. For example, we are a low tax party and we have led the way in the fight against the ULEZ expansion into outer London.

"If we can push back and win that argument, we can show we are more relevant in the lives of the residents of Twickenham.

"Also, there is more we can do around safer streets. One of my first campaigns will be around how we can support the single police station in the constituency in terms of getting the police more visible. That is a campaign I want to lead on with the Conservatives in Twickenham.

"I would want to help residents to help themselves through the establishment of residents' associations, community organisations and neighbourhood forums that I have been involved in setting up."