TORY leaders have short-listed four men in the running to try and win back Tatton - the supposedly 'safe' seat taken from them by MP Martin Bell at the last general election.

The list includes none of the famous names who were thought to be interested in Tatton, with ex-ministers Michael Portillo and Chris Patten both absent.

The biggest name to emerge is George Osborne, speech writer for Conservative party leader William Hague.

Clr Mark Stocks, Chairman of the Tatton Constituency, said: "We feel that any one of the candidates could mount a successful campaign. Moreover, we feel that any of them could hold a position in a future Conservative government."

The names are:

Richard Ashworth, Chairman of the Hastings and Rye Conservative Association. He fought the 1997 election for the North Devon constituency.

He is chairman of United Milk PLC, and is also the chairman of governors of a further education college. He is married, with three daughters.

Peter Fleet, who fought the 1997 election for Southampton Itchen. He is Ford Motor Company's District Manager for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Cumbria, and is a graduate of Southampton University.

He is married, with no children.

Chris Grayling, an ex-BBC journalist and producer of the Nine O'Clock News, who fought for the Warrington South seat in the last election. He is now a director of Change Communications, which helps multinational companies through major changes.

Mr Grayling grew up in Knutsford, and his parents still live there. He is the author of a biography of the brewer Joseph Holt, who owns the Cock O'Budworth. He is married, with two children.

George Osborne, William Hague's Political Secretary and speech writer. Mr Osborne worked as a freelance journalist on The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He joined Conservative Central Office in 1994. He is also Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet.

He is married to Telegraph journalist Frances Howell.

Local candidates have not figured in the short-list, with Clr Stocks adding: "We have chosen candidates who can win back the seat."

He also said that Mr Grayling was not considered a local man, despite his links with Knutsford, and he confirmed that there were two women on the previous short-list of eight names.

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