Conservative Parliamentary Candidates - Contract with CCHQ!

 The Guardian 25 September 2025

Addressing a meeting of the Thatcherite Bruges Group thinktank on Wednesday night, Jenrick was asked (by John Strafford) whether he was concerned that Conservative candidates were being asked to sign a contract with the party under which they could be kicked out if their views differ from central office.

Jenrick replied: “I would get candidates to sign a contract, not some kind of technocratic one. I would get them to sign a contract to say they actually stand for Conservative values. I would get them to say you have got to leave the European convention on human rights, and if you don’t want to do that, don’t stand as a Conservative.” His comments drew murmurs of support.

The ECHR was established in 1950 and sets out the rights and freedoms people are entitled to in the 46 signatory countries.

It is a central part of UK human rights law and has been used to halt attempts to deport people who are deemed to be in the UK illegally.

During the Conservative leadership election, the ECHR became a key dividing line between the two main candidates, Jenrick and Badenoch.

Badenoch argued that leaving the ECHR would not solve the UK’s problems, while Jenrick said his party would “die” if it argued to stay within it.

In June, Badenoch set up a commission to examine whether the UK should withdraw from a series of international legal agreements and overturn some domestic legislation.

Announcing the review, she told the Telegraph: “If we make that decision that we have to leave the ECHR, then that will be a condition of standing for parliament under the Tory banner.”

Although I agree with Robert that we should leave the ECHR, I disagree with his answer to my question.   Setting out conditions that Conservative Candidates and MPs to have to comply with, further reduces the right of Conservative Party members to select their parliamentary Candidate without interference by CCHQ.   Their role should be solely one of due diligence.

The Party Constitution states that in order to be a member of the Party you have to agree to its "objects and values".   Unfortunately nowhere in the Constitution are these defined.   They should be.   If this were done then Robert's answer becomes redundant.