Tory New Beginnings?
This is the start of a watershed week for the Conservatives locally and nationally.
Tonight the local association are having an executive meeting to decide amongst other things whether or not to re-appoint me as the PPC.
The selection process is organised at association level, locally autononmy is still sacrosanct in the Tory party, fortunately.
As reported slightly sensationally by the Herald Express last Monday I have been invited to apply for a couple of other seats coming up for selection which would be interesting to me if the local Association were to decide they would prefer to try someone else to contest Torbay on their behalf.
There is no doubt that my style of operation (and indeed my style of dress) is not to the taste of some members of the local party who I think would prefer a candidate more in the mould of Conservative MP's of old, whereas there are others who like the fact that I am anything but an 'old style' Tory.
It is for the local association members to decide what they want, and who they believe will give them the best chance in four or five years time.
Not unreasonably I have asked the local association to make an early decision so far as I am concerned and to my delight they have responded and will make a judgement tonight.
And then tomorrow we will find out (at last) who is to be our new leader. I am convinced that Cameron has it and by a convincing majority (I expect nearly 2-1 in Camerons favour).
And then on Thursday we have a pivotal local by election in Torbay to select a replacement for Nick Bye in Churston.
This is going to be interesting because there is a large UKIP contingent in that area -UKIP are not contesting the ward and we will be interested to see if their vote comes out, and if it does, whether it comes out for our man.
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12 comments:
Mr Wood, I was very interested to read the article published in the Herald Express on the 28th of November which was laced with self-pity and emotional blackmail demanding to be told whether or not you would be reselected or you would go elsewhere Funny that, because you promised to stay in the bay whatever the result in the General Election because you weren't a 'career politician' you were actually in it to help the people of the bay! Make up your mind! You've just exposed yourself for what you really are, a man without principles who just wants to make a name for himself If you are the future of the Conservative Party in the south-west then god help us!
How true!! Just out of interest, what 'safe' seat in the south-west have you been promised?
So are you the PPC
I am pleased to hear that our local association had the good sense to back you on Monday. Does this mean you will be staying on and having another go at Mr Sanders?
Now the cat is out of the bag re you being touted around elsewhere the 'carpet bagging' jibe will be heading your way again.
Trying to bully local Tories into adopting you - or else - hardly an attractive quality in a wannabe MP !
Anon is right - I will do my best to ensure your lack of commitment to the bay is hammered home to all and sundry. The HE article has shot you in the foot and you know it !
Don't you realise the best way forward is to say little, do nothing and pocket a fat salary ala Nick 'Tory' Bye ?!
Oh, as ever, your attempts at being 'outspoken' involve mouth opening before thinking. Lib Dems have NOT said they will not work with Nick Bye and this is quite clear from their actions since declining to join the cabinet. An apology due methinks !
you are clearly another rattled lib dem, you lot must have been hoping beyond hope that the local Tories wouldn't choose Marcus Wood and now that it seems they have, what next for your man, the dole?
And your snyde comment about Nick Bye pocketing a 'fat salary' hardly stacks up given that the Lib Dems have had their noses in the trough at the town hall for years and Adrian sanders picks up two salaries one for himself and another for his wife, all on the taxpayer.
You should be ashamed of that comment. Nick has already done more for torbay than your lot ever did.
OOh what a fuss about Jim Parkers piece in the Herald!
Anon - The Herald Express article was, I agree, not the best thing ever to go into print so far as I am concerned. Jim Parker accurately reported my comments, it's the emphasis that was sensationalised. I did not say that I would quit the bay, I said that if I did stand and get selected for another seat I would have to move (because I believe that a candidate should live in the constituency he is hoping to represent) but I also made clear that, having moved here, we had no intention of moving away.
I was frustrated with the slow progress on the reselection and in retrospect that emotion came across too clearly, but guess what? - it's how I felt.
I have not been promised a safe seat anywhere - that isn't possible - only the members of an association can decide who they want. I have been encouraged to apply for several that are coming up at the moment, as the article pointed out, by Associations who saw our result against the Lib Dems and want to share our progress.
Eric - you advise me to 'do nothing, say little and pocket a fat salary' - that is what many residents, including Lib Dem leader Chris Harris accuses his own MP of doing. Conservatives on the other hand have a habit of working hard, speaking out for their constituents and keeping their salaries and allowances down.
I agree with you Andrew W, it's too much for Eric Cartman to criticise Nick Bye for taking the pay he is entitled to - I take the view that Nick has done more to justify his salary in three weeks than the Lib Dems have done in three years, including saving Upton school, restoring the cross at the crematorium and getting on with running the bay properly instead of playing politics like the Lib Dem councillors.
I am pleased for you, Marcus, Torbay needs a strong Conservative MP and I hope you do well.
It's got an effective MP, it doesn't need a carpet-bagger like Marcus...
The tory vote remained virtually static at the GE - you Tories are easily pleased - here's to you coming second again !!
Marcus said : Conservatives on the other hand have a habit of working hard, speaking out for their constituents and keeping their salaries and allowances down....
not in Torbay we are used to absentee / disinterested Tory MPs.... as for keeping salaries down well you get poor value from P/T Tories, with so many of them having multiple directorships. Laughably at the weekend Oliver Letwin said turning the Tories into a credible force was a full-time job, but he fumbled like hell when asked about his position at Rothchilds...and don't get me started on Hague or 'Fag Ash' Clarke, the ex 'Health' Minister.
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