A 33 year-old businessman from Hampstead has been selected as the new Conservative parliamentary candidate for East Surrey.  Born in Buckinghamshire of Ghanaian parents, Sam Gyimah is set to take MP Peter Ainsworth's place in the House of Commons this May as East Surrey is the sixth safest seat for the Tories in the country. 

The selection took place from a short-list of six candidates last Saturday, 13th February.  One of the other candidates was Surrey County Councillor for Caterham Valley, Sally Marks.  Commenting on the selection, Sally said:  “I am genuinely delighted that Sam won.  Of course I am disappointed that I didn't win but I came very close, and did incredibly well against someone who is going to be a rising star in David Cameron's team.  I think it is good news for the Conservative Party that the East Surrey Conservative Association has chosen someone young and amazing with a brilliant background.  The  Association has done what many people thought they would not do which was to choose on merit.  They looked at the candidates in a proper, unbiased way.  Sam is quite exceptional – I can say that truly from the heart.”

Sam first joined the Conservative Party when he was a student at Oxford University where he became involved in student politics.  In the run-up to the selection process, Sam has been familiarising himself with the issues affecting East Surrey.  Yesterday, Sam was already out on the campaign trail, knocking on doors and introducing himself to local residents.   “People were very pleased to meet me and wanted to know about me and my aspirations for East Surrey,” said Sam.  “I am aware that the green belt is a very important subject, along with the regeneration of town centres and making sure Surrey gets its fair share of funding from central government.  I know how hard Peter Ainsworth has worked for his constituency and I intend to work just as hard.  Politics is about passion, it is about energy and it is about hard work.”

In his response to Sam's selection, Peter Ainsworth said in a statement today:  “I warmly congratulate Sam Gyimah on his selection by East Surrey Conservatives to fight the next General Election.  The hard work starts now.  I very much look forward to working with Sam in the weeks ahead and wish him every success on polling day.”

To learn more about about Sam Gyimah, visit www.samgyimah.com

A full interview with Sam Gyimah will be available to read on The Caterham & District Independent website, www.caterham-independent.co.uk later this week.

The photograph shows Sam Gyimah after completing the Flora London Marathon in 2008 to raise funds for children suffering from Downs Syndrome.