Britain's Conservative Party has announced it'll stage an 'open primary' to choose its candidate for the next general election in Totnes. The current Conservative MP for Totnes won't be contesting the election, after being embarrassed in the expenses scandal...
Party leader David Cameron has long professed to be a fan of the US primary system, and claims "This is the first time any political party in Britain has sought the views of the voters in such a direct way."
But last time a similar process was attempted by the Tories (during the selection of Boris Johnson as the party's London Mayoral candidate) it didn't seem to capture the public's imagination.
Will it be different this time with voters so incensed by the expenses scandal and wanting to feel involved in sorting the mess out? Or will they disengage further with the whole process?
Olly Barratt - UK correspondent
