LOCAL Tories have dismissed claims that the selection process to elect a new prospective parliamentary candidate would have to begin all over again.

It follows suggestions that somebody had been kicked off the selection panel for asking candidates awkward questions on the euro and the single currency.

The revelation came after a man claiming to be a Liberal Democrat phoned The Herald and said that during recent interviews with prospective candidates, questions on Europe had caused friction and the process had been put on hold, possibly to be started again from scratch.

The search for a new candidate began following the announcement last summer from South West Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley that she would be standing down at the next general election.

The South West Surrey Conservative agent, Christine Merry-Price, said: "People shouldn't listen to rumours. I can categorically say that no such action has been taken."

This week Mrs Merry-Price added: "The selection is proceeding within the rules of the party and is due to be completed by the end of the month, at which point we will have selected a parliamentary candidate.

"Any rumours that somebody has been taken off the selection committee are for the internal party and not for public examination."

Local party chairman Warren Lister was adamant that nobody had been "thrown off".

But later in the interview he admitted that "somebody has left the committee and that is all I am prepared to say".

He said candidates were asked set questions by the selection committee. Questions such as those on Europe and the euro were kept until the final stages of the selection process.

"That area of policy is very specific and people have personal views and there is a party view. We would be unlikely to elect anybody that hasn't a party view," said Mr Lister.

Mr Lister said that more than 100 people had put their name forward for selection.

"Working within party rules we whittle them down to a sensible 24 to 30 candidates which is done by closed interview."

The selection committee, he explained, was specifically set up to do that and take the process on to the next stage. The association then presents the remaining seven or so candidates to its full executive before the membership votes.

"The selection committee is fine and working as it is supposed to. It is my prerogative to set up the committee and if I decide to make changes then so be it," said Mr Lister.

Mr Lister said the successful candidate was due to be announced on November 27.