Second coup against Gray cancelled?

Earlier this month there was news that Wiltshire North Conservatives had summoned up enough support to have another go at deselecting their MP, James Gray. There was near-consensus at the time that however you would have voted the first time around a second vote would be damaging and unnecessary, unless there was justified grievance about the process of the first vote.

Now James Gray's office are saying that the person who started the petition that triggered a Special General Meeting to "discuss James Gray's position as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate" after being signed by almost 200 members, wants to withdraw it. Gray says he would still like the SGM just to clear the air:

"I would be delighted to appear in front of a meeting and to answer any questions on any subject which the members of my Association might have" said Mr Gray," to draw a line under the malicious activities of a small group of people and reunite the Association well before any possible Election."

4.30pm update: It seems that Cllr Toby Sturgis, the man who James Gray is pointing the finger at, is on the Association's Management Committee with responsibility for membership. He was asked by the Committee to assess opinion within the association and so started a consultation. The 192 assents to having an SGM account for at least 80% of those asked, although Gray claims a number of his supporters who want to clear the air are included in this. The petition was withdrawn in the name of unity after a request from CCHQ to calm the waters ahead of a possible autumn election.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[Nick]

I am amazed and a bit disgusted that he survived the first vote. What on earth were the people in Wiltshire North thinking?

A second vote would be damaging but not as damaging as withdrawing half way through the process and allowing him to smarm about it like this.

[DavisFan]

A real shame, he behaved disgracefully.

[richard bailey]

Wiltshire North will fall at the next election whilst Gray remains the MP and it will not be the fault Cllr Sturgis and his fellow signatories.
Gray's conceited, selfish and frankly asinine behaviour has no place in either Parliament nor the Conservative Party.
CCHQ should be ignored. There will be no Autumn election.

[Chris Palmer]

One would have thought Mr Gray's wife-cheating actions (which revealed his underlying personal beliefs and stance on marriage) would be somewhat at odds with David Cameron's pro-family policies...

[david]

If everyone is apalled at Mr Gray's behaviour, why are they happy to support Boris Johnson?