The Conservative Party has selected a candidate to contest the Cambridge seat in the general election on 8th June.

Amidst their promising results at local elections today, the Conservatives have announced that Dr John Hayward will stand for the party in Cambridge. An experienced social campaigner with a background in international development, Hayward has campaigned with the Conservatives since 2004, and is currently a Conservative Policy Forum Manager.  

Hayward, who holds an undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, spent seven years directing the Society in Tajikistan for Assistance and Research. From 2008 to 2011 he worked at the Cambridge-based think tank, Jubilee Centre.

His national political credentials including a stint as a parliamentary researcher and managing the communications for the 2012 Kent Conservative Police and Crime Commission.

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In his Twitter biography, he describes himself as  a Christian, husband and father who enjoys bird-watching and board games.

Hayward told Cambridge News that he was “delighted” to be standing for election in Cambridge: “I first came to Cambridge as a student in 1989 and I have maintained strong links with the city ever since”.

Despite his experience in national politics, Hayward’s parliamentary bid will face serious challenges. Cambridge last elected a Conservative MP in 1987, and the main drama of this year's election will lie in the contest between Labour and the Liberal Democrats