Dear Conservative Post Readers,
We must breathe life into our party with a renewed role and respect for members.
That means revisiting the calls for greater party democracy that have been swirling around for decades, and taken forward in recent years by the Conservative Post and their excellent campaigns.
It was wrong for local associations to have handpicked lists of candidates forced upon them. Members were constantly badgered for money, but their thoughts and ideas on policy disregarded. That can never be allowed to happen again.
If you vote for me, so we can win this contest, I will work with Jacob Rees-Mogg to reform our party.
Any Conservative Party member will be able to apply for selection. The role of central office will be limited to ensuring candidates can perform the function of being an MP, and meet the moral and ethical standards expected of those in public life.
Candidates must be committed to the fundamental conservative principles and values that define our party so that we reinstate meaning in the blue rosette. Beyond that, choices should be returned to the members. Local associations – made up of longstanding councillors and activists – do not need to be micromanaged.
We need central office to focus on what it’s actually for: helping to win elections. Given the perilous position we face, and the local elections fast approaching, every association needs support.
We will keep all new MPs on low majorities with an incumbency programme, with their campaign managers remaining in place and continuing digital and campaign support. They will be there to help train members so they are empowered to run the campaigns that have the best chance of success locally.
Conservative Party Headquarters will be restored to a place of meritocracy, home to the best campaigners in the business.
We too, can be a party of mass membership once again – home to all those who share ‘small c’ conservative values. The Conservatives have twice before become a mass membership organised with both the Primrose League and the post-war reforms leading to between one and two million members.
This year, hundreds of effective, hard-working Conservative MPs and councillors lost their seats, swept away by a tsunami of dismay with the Conservative government.
Our party has a mountain to climb if we are to ever return to power.
In no small part, our defeat was caused by the hollowing out of our party organisation.
The Conservative Party doesn’t just need root-and-branch reform, it needs to be rebuilt.
So vote for me, so we can change our party.
There is no time to waste. This work must start now.
Best wishes,
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
