"Utilising the party constitution, Cameron was able to stipulate the role of local parties
regarding candidate selection. He thus launched a two-pronged attack on them: a new priority
list of centrally-designated candidates and changes to local procedures. The former imitated
Andrew Lansley's paper Do the Right Thing (2002). This had recommended an 'A-list' of 100
talented candidates, containing equal numbers of men and women and some ethnic
minorities, from which associations in winnable seats would be encouraged to select.
Cameron though, went further, by stating that they would be expected to select from it,
although exceptionally, local candidates could be considered."
From...
http://www.psa.ac.uk/journals/pdf/5/2011/1093_585.pdf