TV personality and ex-MP Gyles Brandreth’s daughter has emerged as the front-runner to represent the Tories in the new Farnham & Bordon seat at the next general election.

Aphra Brandreth is one of three candidates to be interviewed for the role of Farnham & Bordon’s prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) by the local Conservative Association branch.

It is reported she won 19 votes from association members following her interview, followed by Adam Hanrahan with 13 votes and Greg Stafford on 12. 

All three were seen campaigning for the Tories in Farnham ahead of the May local elections.

Jeremy Hunt’s South West Surrey seat will be split in half at the next general election, with Mr Hunt choosing to contest the new Ash & Godalming seat while a new raft of candidates will come forward to battle for Farnham & Bordon.

The new cross-county constituency takes its name from the two largest settlements in each of its Surrey and Hampshire catchment areas, and will also incorporate Haslemere, Grayshott and Liphook.

Aphra Brandreth is described online as an entrepreneur, economist, Conservative activist and podcaster – presenting the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast alongside her dad.

She is also deputy chairman of the Conservative Women’s Organisation and in March won the Best Female Entrepreneur in this year’s Richmond Business Awards for her role in founding the Pet People Veterinary Clinic.

Adam Hanrahan acted as election agent for many of Waverley Borough Council’s Tory candidates in May’s local elections, and describes himself as an “experienced communicator and committed community campaigner with a clear set of Conservative beliefs and values”.

He cites endorsements by Jeremy Hunt, Bramley & Wonersh councillor Jane Austin and Luke Hall MP on his website, and was a Liberal Democrat councillor and shadow cabinet member on Sheffield City Council until as recently as 2019.

Greg Stafford has been a councillor on Ealing Council in west London since 2007, and is currently leader of the council’s Conservative Group. 

He stood for Ealing & Hillingdon in the London Assembly Elections in May, has previously stood for parliament, and is a senior NHS director.

A decision is yet to be announced by the Conservative Association, and no other parties’ candidates have yet emerged.

The next UK general election must be held no later than January 24, 2025.