Selection of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates (Episode 2)

Selection of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates (Episode 2)

By

John E. Strafford

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

6) The Candidate Agreements (both those which are signed upon approval and then selection) need to be extended and tightened and repositioned as Contracts, setting out clearer expectations and requirements in terms of activity and conduct, and processes for dealing with breaches. The Candidate Agreements/Contract must remain binding on those who are successfully elected as MPs, to give clarity over the mutual expectations between the MP and the Party, with a process developed to take action if it is breached (and supported by ongoing vetting, potentially on a random basis).

This is dictatorship.   The only relevant contracts are those between the MP and his/her voters and between the MP and his/her party members, for ultimately if they are dissatisfied they can dismiss the MP.

Who will be the judge to decide that the Contract has been breached and who are the judges accountable to?

Will there be an appeal process?

Who will do the vetting or should it be called snooping?

What are the actions to be taken if the Contract is breached?

Are the current Conservative MPs who wish to stand again at the next General Election going to have to sign this contract and have they been consulted?

The Leader already has too much power over MPs by having the Chief Whip withdraw the whip as happened to Howard Flight MP.   The Whip should only be withdrawn or suspended with the agreement of the Executive of the 1922 Committee.

8) As set out in the Constitution, the processes for selection should remain within the remit of the Candidates Committee to recommend to the Board. A majority of members of the Candidates Committee should be from the voluntary party. 

The Chairman of the Candidates Committee should be elected by and accountable to the members of the Party at an Annual General Meeting of Party members to which every member of the Party is invited.

Are the majority of members of the Candidates Committee from the voluntary party to be appointed or elected and if elected by whom?   They should be elected by the National Convention.

Further comments to follow