Tory grassroots seek parliamentary candidates with distinctive skills, history of loyalty to party, of any gender

In ConservativeHome's end-April survey of the Tory grassroots we asked party members to rate the importance of various characteristics when it comes to the selection of Conservative candidates for parliamentary seats.

The graphic on the right summarises the results.

At the end of the survey we also asked an open question as to other characteristics that would be important in a selection.  Here are some of the verbatim responses to that open question, (chosen to be representative of the replies given):

1. Speaking straight, without the jargon
2. Knowledge of the particular area. If yellow stronghold then knowledge of them important.
3. Proof they are actually Conservative and not just a careerist jumping on the Conservaitive party Bandwagon to further their own careers through a political medium.
4. Not from the political class
5. A successful life outside politics!
6. Willingness to work and lead instead of talk!   
7. Must be prepared to do what is best for their constituency above political ideolgy or party loyalty.
8. Evidence of achievement outside politics, eg running a successful business, charity work, overcoming a big disadvantage or challenge in life.
9. Must be capable of original thinking, not just a clone.
10. Hard-working.
11. Sadly, ability to look/sound good on TV.
12. The ability to form a strong, loyal, and enthusiastic group of workers around them.
13. Aptitude for holding executive to account, not just as potential Minister.
14. Prepared to be seen about the constituency on a very regular basis.
15. Ability to relate to people at all social levels.

A hunger for candidates from outside of politics was noticeable.  Westminster village candidates beware!

Comments

[Old Hack]

So that's why there's an A list!

As I've said before, bring back the National Union - its time to take back power to the constituencies.

[Boris the Turk]

No mention of gays, ethnic minorities or woman (unless of course they meet the above criteria) - funny that I have never had someone on the doorstep screeming for that either. Just another example of how our segment of the political class is self serving and self gratifying themselves with PC nonsense, insulated from the real world in thier Westminster and West London Villages.

[Yogi]

Boris the Turk @0913;

I take offence at your banding us in West London with the Westminster village as PC.

[Michael Rutherford]

Boris The Turk, surely the reason for the A List and encouraging women is because associations discriminate, or have discriminated in the past, against women?

If there wasn't discrimination against women, how come so few MPs are female?

[m dowding]

Michael Rutherford, "how come .......",

Simply because many women choose raising children over other activities. Hunter gatherer and home maker are still powerful human driving forces. FACT, not political correctness claptrap.
Those women who choose alternate lifestyle directions outside motherhood, or alongside, usually are formidable and very successful. It is not necessary to force change, it evolves.

[Steve]

Because fewer women applied. Simple as that.

They still do.

[YMT]

1. Speaking straight, without the jargon

I concur, answer the bloody question! time and again politicians in this county don't seem capable of doing it, trying to turn the question asked into something they can spin as favorable, and the members in the conservatives do it to, If you want to be see as a breath as fresh air, seriously answering the questions during TV interviews in a straightforward manner will greatly help that. I wish sometimes are TV presenters could be as aggressive as ones in the states when it comes it comes to interviewing politicians, and express their disdain publicly when they politician does the crap speak, maybe splaying a "BEEP wrong answer" sound bite would get the message across.

[Bluesword]

Our invisible PPC fails on many of the above counts, was seen rarely during the campaign and complains that she cannot help much because of childcare problems.

I am a great supporter of more women becoming candidates, but they must be prepared and able to actually cope with the demands of a full on campaign for the next two years as must male candidates.

If a five week local election campaign is too much then what will happen if we win the seat.

[momaway]

I agree the A list was not the best way, but many Associations need to look at how they selected in the past and some of the awful questions they asked female candidates. eg 'who will look after your children when you are in London', even 'how will your husband managed for sex while you are away!!!' but these questions were never asked of male candidates. The associations bought the A list on themeselves!

[John Leonard]

Mike Rutherford:

So replacing one type of discrimination with another is alright then? I hardly think that is the example that the leadership should be promoting.

We are after all supposed to be a meritocratic party.

Furthermore, it wreaks of top-down central control and from what I recall a certain someone has a major problem with that?

Fixing the rules of who can be selected other than to confirm ability, skills and experience is not democracy at all.

[Schlieffen Plan]

Bluesword...What are you planning to do about it...I would be interested as we appear to face a similar problem.....

[Bluesword]

Schlieffen Plan @12:17

I don't know what we can do. Are there procedures to deselect a candidate? I know of other supporters who are "withdrawing labour". I suppose a letter to the regional agent would help, but would they listen to one person.

[Mr Angry]

Who really cares how many MPs are Women then? Only the terminally lefty, politically correct Westminster Village, the electorate couldn't care less. They just want the best person for the job, just like we ought to.

All "preferment" exercises are just discrimination dressed up as acceptable and you know what, no form of discrimination is acceptable or should be acceptable to a political party, especialy not the Conservatives who always should believe in a strict meritocracy.

[Boris the Turk]

Yogi,

By the way, no offence met, but the "Notting Hill Set" of tories (who I was refering too) are most definately "well PC" and it it their view of life that has led to the blatent discrimination against white hetrosexual men who are't minor celebs and they are no different to the cultural maxists in Nu Labour and the Lib Dems.

[Richard]

In response to those who call for "positive" discrimination to improve our electoral fortunes, please tell me the race, sex, sexuality and class of the man who just got elected Mayor of of the most multicultural and diverse city in the UK?

[Richard Carey]

Bluesword: I don't know what we can do. Are there procedures to deselect a candidate? I know of other supporters who are "withdrawing labour". I suppose a letter to the regional agent would help, but would they listen to one person.

Some suggestions to try and help. I obviously don't know the circumstances within your Association and appreciate that you are frustrated, but I do think that talk of deselection procedures on a public forum is probably jumping the gun!

If you have concerns that your Association and/or PPC is under-performing in terms of campaigning,I'd sugest that in the first instance you share your concerns locally with your Association Chairman or Deputy Chairman Political. If you don't make any progress, or for any reason don't feel comfortable doing this, then I would have a chat with your Campaign Director (if you're a target seat) or Regional Director.

It is a key part of their remit to keep an eye on Associations and candidates in their patch, and offer a helping hand if we're seen to be falling short - so if there is a genuine problem there I'd expect your RD to know about it already!

I hope that this is helpful. As I say, it doesn't sound like the kind of issue that is best fixed on a public forum, but if I can be of any further help you're welcome to email me at carey.rj@googlemail.com

[Joe Cookson]

I'm very happy that likelihood of achieving high office comes in with such a low percentage, though people in Yorkshire would be horrified by the idea that loyalty to the leadership is seen as more important than local connections. In many areas of the North it is crucial to select people from the region; perhaps that's why we perform so badly...

[Lucy]

Dismayed by high regard for 'Loyalty to leadership'. I've always thought an open approach to king-killing is rather healthy. Loyalty to the Party is certainly a valuable quality, and that may well confer a certain loyalty to leadership. But surely it is not an end in itself.