A hidden clause in the rules for selecting Conservative MPs has been unearthed by the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO).
The Conservative Post has seen a letter from CDO Chairman Lord Peter Cruddas to Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands questioning the validity of MPs who have stated they have already been successful in being readopted by their associations.
Lord Cruddas points out in many cases across the country “one further democratic exercise featuring all members of the constituency is yet to take place.”
The Conservative Peer states as per the Conservative Party’s own rules (Paragraph 2.13 of Appendix 4 of the Party’s Rules on Selection), the selection process should be “concluded by a General Selection Meeting made up of all members resident within the boundaries of the proposed new constituency.”
Commenting on the Conservative Peer’s letter to the Conservative Party Chairman, Constitution expert John Strafford told the Conservative Post:
“It appears that yet again some MPs are trying to circumvent our party members to whom they are accountable if they want the Conservative Party’s nomination.”
“MPs in general have ample representation on the Party Board where these procedures were agreed, so they had every opportunity to object or change them at the time. Their failures should not cost our members their democratic rights.”
The full letter from Lord Cruddas to Greg Hands reads as follows:
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing on behalf of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) to seek clarification on a specific point within the Rules for the Selection of Conservative Party Candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Version 1.0, 02/09/2022).
Appendix 4 of these rules deals with the re-adoption of sitting Conservative MPs who are facing boundary changes. Paragraph 2.13 of Appendix 4 states that “The selection process will be concluded by a General Selection Meeting made up of all members resident within the boundaries of the proposed new constituency.”
Several sitting Conservative MPs who are affected by boundary changes have claimed that they have been re-adopted by their associations through tweets and other materials. However, according to Appendix 4, this cannot be entirely true, as one further democratic exercise featuring all members of the constituency is yet to take place. We are concerned that members of our Conservative & Unionist Party may be disenfranchised by Members of Parliament once again, especially after the summer of 2022, where the democratic choices of members over the Party Leader were twice ousted by MPs.
As an organisation that values the democratic rights of our members, we urge you to publish a timeline for the General Selection Meetings and ensure that CCHQ publicises these events to members in affected constituencies. The CDO is willing to assist you in these endeavours.
We believe that our members are the lifeblood of the Conservative & Unionist Party, and it is essential that their democratic rights are upheld. We look forward to your response on this matter.
