A TACTIC to try and get more women and ethnic minorities into Parliament will be tested out at the next general election.

The Conservative Party revealed its candidate for the new parliamentary seat of Chippenham on Thursday, which will include Bradford on Avon and Melksham, and he comes from the party's controversial A-list.

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, who is known as the Black Farmer, claims to be the only black farmer in the UK and produces speciality sausages and sauces from his farm in Devon. The A-list was created by Tory leader David Cameron to try and parachute' minority candidates into Parliament through so-called safe seats.

Mr Emmanuel-Jones, 48, has been a member of the Conservative Party for four years and this will be his first attempt at winning a seat in the House of Commons. He said: "Chippenham is a booming town and it is very important that we keep the balance between old and new."

He was born in Jamaica but brought up in Birmingham and describes himself as a poor boy done well'. He bought a farm on the Devon and Cornwall border, near Launceston and lives there with his wife and three children, but is planning on buying somewhere near Chippenham soon.

The new constituency of Chippenham will be up for grabs at the next general election in either 2009 or 2010 and because of changes being enforced by the Boundary Commission, will include Bradford on Avon, Melksham and Paxcroft Mead.

There will also be a new South West Wiltshire constituency made up of Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster, as well as the existing constituencies of North Wiltshire and Devizes.

Mr Emmanuel-Jones says he will be targeting planning and transport in Chippenham if he is elected for the seat, saying: "Planning is very important because we don't want it looking like Blackpool or Brighton.

"Also, this is a dormitory town so rail and road travel are very important to the community."

Mr Emmanuel-Jones' Conservative colleagues Dr Andrew Murrison, who will lose Bradford on Avon to the Chippenham constituency, and James Gray, who will lose both Chippenham and Corsham, have both expressed their support for him.

Dr Murrison said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Wilfred has been selected and look forward to briefing him on the many issues relating to Bradford on Avon and surrounding communities.

"Although I'm very sad to be losing part of my constituency that I'm especially attached to, I am pleased that such an excellent choice of person to represent the area after the next election has been made."

Mr Gray said: "Wilfred has a wide variety of talents and assets which will make him a superb candidate for the Conservative Party in the new Chippenham seat and I hope an outstanding Member of Parliament for very many years to come."

The Liberal Democrats and Labour have yet to announce their candidates for the Chippenham or South West Wiltshire seats.