Tory chair chosen to stand in safe seat 300 miles from former constituency
The Conservative chair, Richard Holden, has been selected at the last minute for a safe seat 300 miles from his former constituency, triggering anger among members.
Holden was chosen to stand in Basildon and Billericay in Essex on Wednesday night after being the only candidate on the list.
Members of the local Conservative association were incensed about the move. Andrew Baggott, the Conservative group leader on Basildon council, said this week he would refuse to campaign for Holden.
A member of the Holden’s new local association told the BBC his selection was a “slap in the face” for members in the area.
A Tory insider told the Guardian: “As chairman, Richard Holden is supposed to connect the party to the members. Instead … he’s presiding over a team that have totally ignored the membership and is now forcing himself upon a seat. There will be consequences for this post-election.”
Holden has been on the hunt for a new constituency for months after his own, North West Durham, was abolished in the constituency boundary review.
Basildon and Billericay is regarded as a safe Tory seat. Its former MP John Baron, who announced his retirement last October, won a majority of 20,412 in 2019.
Holden was able to put himself forward as the only candidate two days before the deadline for candidates in this general election to submit their nomination papers.
The Conservative party is scrambling to put together a full slate of candidates before Friday afternoon.
Asked if he would campaign for Holden, Baggott told the PA news agency: “Absolutely not. Sorry, I will be campaigning for Stephen Metcalfe in the neighbouring authority. I will be campaigning for Mark Francois. I will not be campaigning for somebody that is being imposed upon us.”
Richard Moore, the chair of the local association, said Holden’s candidacy had come as “a complete surprise” to local members and that the process was “wholly undemocratic”.
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He said the Conservative party’s central office had “stacked everything against us” in how the selection was handled.
“Association members are very disappointed that the party, after seven months, has imposed one candidate and have not given the opportunity for several candidates to be considered by the members of the association,” he said.
“We have been absolutely frustrated with the selection process, we have had the vacancy for seven months and party headquarters waited until two days before nominations close to give us one candidate. I mean, it is really not right. It is not cricket, as one would say.”
Holden and the Conservative party have been contacted for comment.