The final four Conservative contestants for the Hertsmere parliamentary seat have been revealed.

With neither Mayor of London Boris Johnson or Hertsmere Council leader Cllr Morris Bright standing for the Hertsmere seat next May, rumours have been circulating about who will be selected as the Conservative candidate.

The four who will face the ultimate selection meeting on Tuesday were revealed on the Conservative Home blog today.

Westminster councillor and former journalist Antonia Cox is the only female candidate. Cllr Cox stood in Islington South and Finsbury in 2010, increasing the Conservative vote share by 4.6 per cent.

Also listed as a candidate is Oliver Dowden, currently deputy chief of staff to David Cameron. Mr Dowden comes with extensive experience of Conservative campaigns and lives in the neighbouring constituency of St Albans.

Deputy leader of Hertfordshire County Council Cllr Chris Hayward, who is also the leader of the opposition on Three Rivers District Council and a common councilman on the City of London Corporation, will also stand for the seat.

Finally, businessman Rishi Sunak has also been named on the shortlist – as well as being longlisted in the selection race for Richmond.

The four will battle it out for the Hertsmere seat, which was left vacant after MP of 23 years James Clappison announced his retirement before the selection meeting on October 7.