A 26-year-old chip shop owner has been chosen as the Conservative Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Camborne, Redruth and Hayle seat after George Eustice announced he is not seeking re-election after 13 years as the local MP. 

Connor Donnithorne was selected to stand at the next general election by Camborne and Redruth Conservatives Association.

The association elected the Cornwall councillor as their next candidate at a meeting at the Penventon Hotel in Redruth. Cllr 

Donnithorne was born and went to school in Cornwall and helped set up Seasmiths Fish and Chips, a multi-award-winning family business. 

They opened their first shop in Porthtowan in March 2020. Cllr Donnithorne and his partner Elsie run another Seasmiths restaurant in Wadebridge, which opened in July 2022. He lives in the Camborne-Redruth-Hayle constituency with his young family.

In 2021 he was elected as the Cornwall councillor for Redruth Central, Carharrack and St Day and secured a 35 per cent vote swing, the highest in Cornwall, and became the first Conservative ever elected in the division, beating former Independent cabinet member Mark Kaczmarek. In November 2022, Cllr Donnithorne was appointed as portfolio holder for transport.

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Connor has already delivered on the priorities of local residents, including securing a government extension to the £2 national fare cap in Cornwall, £5 million extra investment to tackle potholes and overseeing £23.5 million investment in making bus fares cheaper for residents and businesses. 

“Connor also blocked any plans for 15-minute cities being introduced in Cornwall under his watch, which would have seen restrictions being introduced to how people can travel, as is being seen in places like Oxford.”

During his tenure as portfolio holder for transport Cllr Donnithorne hasn’t been a stranger to controversy, with the recent rise in car parking tariffs and the halting of work to narrow a busy road in Truro both making headlines recently.

Following the announcement, Mr Eustice said: “Connor Donnithorne lives in Blackwater, runs a small business in the constituency and understands the issues in our area through his work representing St Day and Carharrack on the council. He will make an exceptional candidate for the Conservative Party at the next election and I will be giving him all my support.”

Cllr Donnithorne said: “I feel really proud to be selected to fight for the people of Camborne, Redruth and Hayle as their local parliamentary candidate. I live in the constituency. I set up a business in the constituency. And I am raising my young family in this constituency. I know the issues that matter to local people because they matter to me and my family too. 

“Parliament has never needed strong local and fresh Cornish voices as much as it does now to fight for local people, businesses and families. I look forward to spending every day from now until the next election speaking to people and helping address their local concerns.”

Among those who will be battling Cllr Donnithorne for the seat is Labour’s candidate Perran Moon.