Selection of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates

By

John E. Strafford

The following was published on the Conservativehome web site 9 June 2025:

You say that "Kemi Badenoch has made it pretty plain, without fully committing, that the Tories will eventually end up advocating for ECHR withdrawal", but she also went on to say that no candidate will be allowed on the Parliamentary Candidates list unless they support her policy, whatever that may end up being? Will she adopt the same approach to all her policies? The word "Dictatorship" comes to mind. Party members should determine who their Candidate should be as was the case pre 1998, without interference by CCHQ or Kemi Badenoch. The great Margaret Thatcher welcomed discussion and debate, because it helped to develop sound policy! That is Leadership!

Incidentally any Candidate wishing to go on the Candidates would be stupid not to agree with Kemi’s policy.   Of course, afterwards they might change their mind!

The Party Review has set out 49 recommendations to improve the Selection of Parliamentary Candidates process.   Some are worthy of support, others need to be changed. The following are my comments: 

Making the Parliamentary Candidate selection fit for the future: draft recommendations from the Party Review

3) Create the role of Regional Candidate Co-ordinators – senior volunteers with no Parliamentary ambitions of their own (reinforced by a formal bar from going on to the Approved List (“The List”) within 5 years of leaving the role) – who would ensure communication with and involvement of the voluntary party (Regional, Area and Association Officers) and ultimately members throughout the process. They would be appointed for the duration of each Parliament (by the Regional Chairman, Chairman of Candidates Committee and National Convention Officer for the region), and would be given the names of those on the List in their respective localities, to ensure those on the List are suitably engaged in local campaigning (reducing the need for inefficient long distance travel to campaign events), mentored and held to account for their activities.

This is a good point but it lacks democratic accountability.

(a)   Regional Officers should be elected by and accountable to all the members in the Region  at an Annual General Meeting of the members of the Region.

(b)   The Regional Candidate Co-ordinator should be elected by and accountable to all the  members in the Region  at an Annual General Meeting of the members of the Region.

(c)   Area Officers should be elected by and accountable to all the members in the Area at an Annual General Meeting of the members of the Area.

 

4) To prevent other senior volunteer roles being reduced to stepping stones to the List, and reduce conflicts of interest, make future holders of senior voluntary roles (e.g. Regional and Area Chairmen and above, Association Chairmen in relation to their own seat – exact scope to be determined) ineligible from joining the List for a period of (say) 2 years after completing their term in that role, or ineligible for certain seats where a conflict may arise (or be perceived to arise). Similarly, consideration should be given to restricting Party staff (locally or nationally employed) from applying for specific seats, if there is a conflict or unfair advantage.

Very good. Sensible!

Further comments to follow!