Tory Chairman Richard Holden has left it down to the wire to find himself a safe seat. Just two nights ago, he had to pull out of being shortlisted in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich over huge backlash from local Tories. As reported in The Times this morning, fuel was added to the fire as a row erupted between Tom Hunt MP and Holden. Hunt felt he was stabbed in the back after CCHQ told him to run in Ipswich, chose not to, and then found out Holden was on the shortlist…
Now CCHQ are making the most of the rules which allow only one candidate to be put up before nominations close in 48 hours – placing Holden as the only candidate in Basildon & Billericay (his reserve safe seat). Guido understands the local association are plotting their own fight back, doing their own nomination form. Meanwhile, Tory MPs are getting in touch, furious at “b*stard” Holden’s “banana republic style selection”…
A senior Conservative MP tells Guido:
“It’s intolerable to have a chicken run chairman stitching up an actual conservative. Tom’s been utterly dedicated to the cause of conservatism, and a great local MP. Holden shouldn’t be imposed on Billericay against members’ wishes. I hope this outrageous banana republic style selection process is torn up and members are given a choice of candidates in the usual way.”
One Tory minister tells Guido:
“Party chairman should be 100% focused on running the election campaign not Chicken running around constituencies – stitching up associations, local candidates and other standing MPs and being so awful that you are rejected by Conservative members. It’s embarrassing and desperate stuff.”
Co-conspirators in CCHQ report that Holden has been holed up in a side room all morning practising his selection speech and answers to angry association members. Will the Tory Chairman have to abort his chicken run?
UPDATE I: Leader of Basildon Conservatives, Andrew Baggott tells Guido:
“We’ve known that the seat needed a candidate since last October. CCHQ have fobbed us off for months and even last night (Tuesday) we were told that we would have a group of three candidates to choose from. This morning, everything had changed. The imposition of a candidate on the good folk of basildon/billericay is absolutely shameful. From the get go it appears that the candidates department have been less than honest with the officers of our association and their attitude seems borderline arrogant. The executive had very clear criteria for their preferred candidate and the imposed candidate possesses none of them. It’s a slap in the face to local councillors, volunteers and the membership. We need a conservative here, and local members should be trusted to know what that means and be able to select, democratically, who they want to represent them. I’ll be discussing this with fellow members to work out our next steps. We certainly won’t accept this without a fight.”
UPDATE II:
The local association is gathering the signatories to nominate Ben Woollard as the Conservative & Independent candidate in Basildon & Billericay. Holden may be forced out yet again…
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
