howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 November 2009
17:4933353#1
has everyone been following the shenanigans up in norfolk involving a blue mp?
riveting stuff, the local party wanted to deselect the lady over her em,er, nudge nudge, behaviour with a fellow mp.
because of this rather outdated outlook, the local party came to be known as the turnip taleban.
the local no.1 is a chap that wears a barbour jacket, green wellies and appears to be the type that would need his moat cleaned on a regular basis.
anyway, boy dave has told them where to go, and take the mp(who lives hundreds of miles away) for the next general election.
should the leadership have this sort of control over local parties?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
17 November 2009
18:0233356#2
The problem here though Howard is that at local levels the Tories are run by oul Colonel Blimps and not very modern at all. Boy Dave and the modernists in London are probably right in their pursuit of 21st Century thinking, but are they taking the grass roots with them? I dont thinkso. In this case the lady has survived but somewhat with a tarnished reputation, whether this is fair or not is impossible to judge. But will she be able to work with her fellow conservatives in the constituency to the greater good of all. Looks a difficult ask.
It is clearly a mess. That local chap you describe there Howard, his name escapes one, is absolutely disgusted with the boys in London.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 November 2009
18:0633357#3
paul
whatever the behaviour of the yokels, central office will still expect them to go out canvassing, delivering leaflets, and doing mailshots at election time.
will they still oblige?
not that it matters, they could put a blue rosette on a bag of cauliflowers, would still get voted in up there.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 November 2009
18:0733358#4
Actually, Howard/PaulB - the local Party had a vote on the matter, 132 votes to retain the candidate with only 37 against. That means she got 78% in favour, a very impressive vote of confidence and is clearly the choice of the local party.
The 'Turnip Taliban', a wonderful phrase that, despite all the noise and bluster were shown to be only that, noise and bluster.
It is important that the Party centrally has the ability to sift candidates and to draw up a list of approved people. The local party then select a 'long list' of applicants from the approved list. Beyond that the procedures do vary with open or closed primaries and other forms of selection available to the local party. At certain points a curtailed form of selection takes place, before by-elections for instance, in which Central Office has more say. Selections from January will use the curtailed process.
There is always a balance to strike and sometimes there can be an excessive degree of pressure centrally on local parties over the short list/selection method without a doubt. The objective must always be to get the best and highest calibre of candidate selected that is also acceptable to the local party.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 November 2009
18:1033359#5
barry
the local party are saying that a lot of pressure was applied from above, to ensure that the vote went their way.
the blues have not come out of this well, one of the leading members( a local councillor) that wanted her deselected, has recently had to pay back 14 grand to the benefits people.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 November 2009
18:2833362#6
Howard - I have been following this story as this candidate is a lady I know of (not personally I add) and is of a far higher calibre than most MPs and most certainly would be a great asset in the House.
There are one or two people whinging away, one particularly outspoken and the fact is they did not get their way. However you like to dress it up only 37 voted against her, a pathetic number given the fuss that was made by a few.
DC did speak openly in support of her and good for him. He led from the front and common sense and fair play won out in the end. To me that speaks well of the Party. There are always oddities in any local Party of whatever persuasion or indeed within any organisation of any kind. I really dont know what one of the agitators personal (alledged) misdemeanors has to do with the issue... That would be an issue for the Standards Board and the Local Party only.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 November 2009
19:5333364#7
with regard to the last bit barry, i thought he would have kept his head down under the circumstances.
i am sure that the candidate is a good one and will adhere to the blue principle of giving people a leg up(or was it over), i always confuse the two.