Tory first as Cameron appoints lesbian

David Cameron today appointed the Conservatives' first openly lesbian General Election candidate as a vice-chairman of the party.

Millionaire businesswoman Margot James, who became the first openly gay woman Tory to stand for Parliament when she fought Holborn and St Pancras in May, was named vice-chairman with responsibility for women's issues.

Ms James trailed in third place in the Labour safe seat, but is widely expected to be one of the women on the priority candidate list for winnable constituencies being drawn up Mr Cameron to boost his party's female representation at Westminster.

Another vice-chairman's post goes to Sayeeda Warsi, the former race relations adviser to Michael Howard, who stood for the Tories in Dewsbury in May in the hope of becoming Britain's first Muslim woman MP.

Ms Warsi, a lawyer, who is given responsibility for the cities, is also expected to benefit from the A-list scheme announced by Mr Cameron after his election as Tory leader last week.

Justine Greening, who entered Parliament in May by seizing Putney for the Tories, is appointed vice-chairman (youth), while fellow-newcomer Grant Shapps, who won Welwyn Hatfield at the election, becomes vice-chairman (campaigning).