MSP John Lamont was voted the Tory candidate for the Westminster seat of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk in the party’s first ‘primary’ in Kelso last night.
Local Tories say they have opened up the selection process to make the process of selection transparent and appeal to more voters.
Around 300 people attended the event in the Tait Hall when Daily Telegraph journalist Alan Cochrane interviewed the hopefuls, Lamont and Conservative councillor Michelle Ballantyne.
Party officials then handed round ballot papers before collecting votes and the count.
Former lawyer Lamont will be bidding to take the seat from sitting MP Michael Moore for the third time in the election next year.