Have Cameron's Cuties really got what it takes to transform politics?




As a study of female ambition it's worthy of a Vanity Fair picture spread: the Tories proudly parading their latest clutch of female candidates in a glossy photoshoot.



These are Dave's Dolls, the real women he's promoted and, in some cases, selected, to fight and win safe Conservative seats in the General Election. And what a fascinating bunch they are. No twin sets and pearls here.



Some blue blood, but not a blue rinse in sight, they are his new fighting force; the secret weapon with which he believes he will win the war.



Cameron's Cuties: From bottom left to bottom right. Priti Patel, Kemi Adegoke, Keely Huxtable, Charlotte Vere, Nusrat Ghani, Charlotte Leslie, Deborah Dunleavy, Louise Bagshawe, Maria Hutchings, Julia Mulligan, Susan Williams, Penny Mordaunt, Helen Grant

They share a desire to make the world a better place - and for that they are to be applauded. The question is whether the good intentions of the political amateur will be enough in the rough and tumble of Westminster - especially in these dire economic times.

It's not their fault, but many of them have been chosen for the wrong reason: to carry David Cameron's message that the Tories have changed. Not changed their principles, but their appearance.

On the campaign trail: David Cameron hopes his female candidates will help him win the election

This is not to say that some of these women, with an average age of 39, will not exceed our expectations. After all, every MP has to start somewhere, and these women may yet prove to be among the political stars of the future.



But it's hard not to feel a little disconcerted by some of their gushing apple-pie naivete. 'I've always enjoyed helping people,' says Charlotte Vere, 41, close friend of Dave's best mate, multi-millionaire Zac Goldsmith. She answered the leader's clarion call to join his band of sisters and become an MP.



Or how about this from Helen Grant, a successful lawyer, taking over Ann Widdecombe's safe Tory seat and set to become the Tories' first black woman MP: 'I heard one of David Cameron's speeches and, yes, we do want to make money, but we really care about looking after each other.'



Some wear the fact they're Tory-Come-Lateleys as a badge of honour: Nusrat Ghani, 37, joined the party last summer.



Chick-lit author Louise Bagshawe, 38, joined the Labour Party in 1996 and is proud of her new Tory membership, claiming it demonstrates she is a 'free thinker'.



It's easy to poke fun at how callow some of them are, but there is an important point at stake. As Tony Blair discovered with his all-women shortlists and the record number of hapless female MPs he got elected in 1997 (most of whom have sunk without trace), politics is a hard business.



These Tory candidates have been chosen because they are women and they know little about politics.



They are Dave's ingenues, who, he believes, will bring a breath of fresh air into the stuffy corridors of Westminster.



But there are qualities that count more than your gender in politics, and they are courage and character. Laudable though it is that a full-time mother of three wants to make a difference, I doubt 28-year-old Keely Huxtable has any idea what lies ahead of her as a backbench MP.



Her last job, working for a haulage company, hardly qualifies her for running the country. A successful MP also needs the hide of a rhinoceros and to be experienced in the day-to-day battle of Parliament.



These women say they have a dream. Haven't we all? Mine is for a Conservative government able to steer this country through the troubled times ahead, stacked full of able and committed Tories who have run things in the past, and can run the country, whatever their sex, sexuality or colour.



PR girl: Priti Patel

THE PR GIRL

Priti Patel, 38, Witham, Essex



Rising star, on Cameron's 'A-list' - a selection of preferred prospective candidates - set to be the Conservative party's first Asian female MP.



Daughter of Ugandan immigrants expelled by dictator Idi Amin, Priti was born in London.



Parents ran a post office in rural Norfolk and then a successful small shop in the South-East.



Priti was educated at a Watford comprehensive and studied economics at Keele University.



Tory party member since the age of 18, landed a job at Conservative Central Office in 1994 and became William Hague's Press officer.

Also worked for drinks giant Diageo, and until recently was associate director at Weber Shandwick, one of world's biggest public relations firms, with clients including Barclays.



Has a one-year-old-son with her husband, Alex Sawyer.



'I've always thought the day the Conservatives get elected again will be the day they have people that look and sound like me,' she says.

Chess tutor: Kemi Adegoke

THE CHESS TUTOR



Kemi Adegoke, 30, Dulwich & West Norwood, London



Selected as area's parliamentary candidate in 2008 from all female shortlist - though party members claim it was based on merit alone.



Born in Wimbledon, she was brought up and schooled at the state secondary International School of Lagos in Nigeria. Returned to Britain in 1996.



Father is a GP and mother a professor of physiology in Nigeria. As a teenager, supported herself by working at McDonald's before studying computer systems engineering at Sussex University. Works as a systems analyst for the RBS Group and last year completed part-time law degree at Birkbeck, University of London.



Joined Conservative party in 2005.



Interests include playing and teaching chess, reading, web development and graphic design.



'I've always been a Conservative,' she says. 'I'm an economic liberal who doesn't believe in socialism or a big state, but understands the need to be pragmatic. There's no other party for me.'

The Brownie leader: Keely Huxtable



THE BROWNIE LEADER

Keely Huxtable, 28, Birmingham Northfield



Full-time mother, born and brought up in constituency.



Attended comprehensive school before studying politics at Cadbury College.



Joined Tory Party in 2003 and stood in council elections.



Married to Birmingham Tory councillor Tim Huxtable. Daughter Katie is nearly two.



Worked in the civil service and local government, while completing Open University degree on social policy.



Long-serving Guider in the Brownies, school governor and volunteer music teacher.



Practising evangelical Christian. 'I'm from an average, hard-working family,' she says. 'I like to think I know what is needed at grassroots level.'

The entrepreneur: Charlotte Vere

THE ENTREPRENEUR



Charlotte Vere, 41, Brighton Pavilion



On A-list, having answered Cameron appeal for people with no previous involvement in politics to stand for Parliament.



Married mother of two from South-West London, born in Malaysia where father served in the British Army.



Friend of Tory environmental campaigner Zac Goldsmith.



After leaving Stover School (private girls' school in South Devon founded by the Army), did degree in biochemical engineering at University College London before completing MBA at JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management in the U.S. Business woman and entrepreneur, has launched several companies.



Was CEO of Big White Wall, a social network for people with depression and poor mental health.



Interests include music - anything from The Killers, Muse and Foo Fighters to Mozart.



'Becoming an MP is a gradual process for me. Talking to people on their doorsteps I realised I could help make lives better.'

The banker: Nusrat Ghani



THE BANKER WITH A CONSCIENCE



Nusrat Ghani, 37, Birmingham Ladywood



Joined Tories last summer, responding to Cameron's appeal.



Worked at Goldman Sachs, Age Concern, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and BBC World Service.



Born in Kashmir, moved to Britain as a child. Daughter of teacher and full-time mum, educated in Birmingham at state schools, Cadbury Sixth Form College and University of Central England.



Married with three-year-old daughter. Interests include cinema, theatre, skiing and fun runs.



'I am the daughter of immigrants and the first woman in my family to go to college and university,' she says. 'Coming from such a background taught me the importance of education, aspiration and the work ethic to deliver the opportunity and social mobility to succeed.'







The surfer: Charlotte Leslie

THE SURFING BRAINBOX



Charlotte Leslie, 31, Bristol North West



Tipped as future Education Secretary. Single, lived in area all her life. Joined Tories in 2004 after leaflet came through letterbox.



Father an NHS surgeon. Dyslexic, she attended Badminton independent girls' school - swimming at national level -and studied classics at Oxford.



Cornish lifeguard in summer holidays. Worked in production on BBC shows including The Weakest Link and The Holiday Programme before moving to educational think tanks and charities.



Was special adviser to Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts, works part-time on public affairs for National Autistic Society.



Sports mad, she surfs, runs and is president of local boxing club.



'I couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore with so much I wanted to change,' she says. 'So I thought: "Come on, Charlotte, put your money where your mouth is." '

The football coach: Deborah Dunleavy

THE FOOTBALL COACH



Deborah Dunleavy, 46, Bolton North East



Born and raised in constituency, she stood in the last General Election, for Bolton South East, receiving 20 per cent of votes to Labour 57 per cent.



Daughter of painter and decorator, attended all-girls' grammar school before working in sales and insurance. Now director of firm of independent financial advisers.



Proud of her roots, still lives in Bolton with partner Mark and three children Olly, Isabella, Scarlett. Parents and sister live in same street.



When son was at school, she took FA certificate and coached junior football team. Passionate Bolton Wanderers supporter.



'Candidates like me are not professional politicians,' she says. 'We're ordinary people with typical life experiences.'



The handbagger: Maria Hutchings



THE HANDBAGGER



Maria Hutchings, 48, Eastleigh, Hampshire



Chosen in 2007 from A-list elite. Former Labour supporter, famously handbagged Tony Blair on TV about closure of special schools.



'Tony, that's rubbish,' she said, attracting headlines. Private meeting with PM, but felt betrayed and joined Tories.



Father John, a fusilier in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment, died of cancer when she was 12. Partially blind mother, Vicky, had three jobs to support family.



Attended Grays Convent and local sixth-form college. Trained musician with degree in social science and public administration from London University.



Communications consultant for 28 years. Married with four children, son is autistic.



'After years of battling to get my son the help he needed, I realised Labour wasn't helping the most vulnerable,' she says. 'The best way to get change was to be in Parliament.'



The author: Louise Bagshawe

THE CHICK-LIT AUTHOR

Louise Bagshawe, 38, Corby and East Northants



Fiercely ambitious, part of Cameron's inner circle, featured on A-list and tipped for early promotion to ministerial ranks.



Raised in Sussex, attended village primary and Woldingham Catholic girls' boarding school. Father a stockbroker, mother magistrate and former head teacher. Read Anglo-Saxon and Norse at Oxford.



Worked for EMI Records and Sony Music, touring Europe with heavy metal bands such as Guns N' Roses.



Best-selling chick-lit author - books include Passion, Glitz and Glamour.



She and property speculator husband recently divorced. Three children.



In 1996, impressed by Blair, she joined Labour Party. Switch to Tories came, because 'party seems ready to change'.



'I wanted to do something more than sit in a pub, complaining about the state of Britain,' she says.



The farmer's daughter: Julia Mulligan



THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER



Julia Mulligan, 42, Leeds North West

Local woman, can trace roots in constituency back five generations.



Born in village of Bramhope, mother was once Yorkshire's only female full-time hill farmer.

After graduating in European politics and economics, first job was in sales and marketing at Leeds dealership.



Moved to leading international communications agencies before returning to Yorkshire where she runs marketing agency.



Married to Patrick, an Irish American. Has two daughters, aged eight and nine.



'I knew David Cameron was serious about wanting more women in politics,' she says. 'There are Tory candidates from all walks of life who understand voters.'





The rap fan: Susan Williams

THE RAP FAN

Susan Williams, 42, Bolton West



Became involved in politics in 1997 over possible threat to grammar schools in Trafford.



Elected to council following year and became youngest council leader in June 2004 after Conservative landslide.



Degree in applied nutrition.



Prides herself on not looking like a stereotypical Tory - prefers 'a T-shirt to twin-sets and pearls', and rap music (particularly Eminem) to Radio 4.



Married with three children.



'People say I don't look like a Tory, whatever that means,' she says. 'I'm not posh - just an average woman who can empathise with other people.'

The Labour convert: Helen Grant



THE LABOUR CONVERT



Helen Grant, 48, Maidstone and the Weald, seat held by Ann Widdecombe



Tipped to become Tory's first black female MP. Started life on a tough Carlisle council estate - daughter of white British mother and Nigerian father, who split up when she was a child.



Having excelled academically and in sport at comprehensive school, studied law at University of Hull. Set up Grants Solicitors in Croydon. Husband Simon is a partner. They have two teenage sons. Family law practice has 12,000 clients and 20 employees.



One of Cameron's A-list candidates, shortly after being selected it was revealed she'd joined the Labour party in 2004. Now says supported them only briefly.



'I heard one of David Cameron's speeches when he said he recognised there was a whole generation of people who worked hard, who wanted nice things themselves, but who also believed in social justice,' she says. 'I thought: "That's me." '



The magician's assistant: Penny Mordaunt

THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT



Penny Mordaunt, 37, Portsmouth North



Raised in the area, stood unsuccessfully at last General Election. Father in Parachute Regiment, before teaching.



Mother, a special needs teacher, died of breast cancer in 1988. Educated at local comprehensive, studied drama at Victoryland children's theatre and read philosophy at University of Reading.



Magician's assistant before successful career as communications consultant and PR guru.



A Royal Navy reservist, volunteered in Romanian orphanages. Keen artist.



Selected to contest Portsmouth North in 2003, achieving 5.5 per cent swing to Tories.



'I joined the party in part because I lost a parent and had to help look after the house and my youngest brother,' she says. 'We weren't well off and that's why I believe in low taxation.'



