In my post on Westmorland & Lonsdale I looked at CCHQ's decision to stop an Association appearing to underperform from failing altogether. Another candidate for CCHQ intervention is the apparently dysfunctional Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Association (where the projected Labour majority is 4,305).
Last week Plymouth Sutton Conservatives declined to ratify Cllr Patrick Nicholson after he had been selected in an open primary election of local people. It is the Association's proper right to choose not to ratify the primary's candidate but the Association should not have shortlisted Cllr Nicholson for the primary election if he was not an acceptable candidate. Apparently some Association members dislike his 'feisty' style and believe he packed the primary meeting with his own supporters. The Association's decision has caused terrible publicity in Devon media and insulted the primary voters who took part. Under the headline 'Public vote ignored by the Tories', this is how Plymouth's Herald reported the decision:
"Plymouth residents are outraged after being invited to select a Tory candidate for the next General Election - and then ignored. Members of the public voted for Conservative city councillor Patrick Nicholson to contest the new Plymouth Sutton and Devonport seat. But after expressly inviting the public to have their say, party members decided not to ratify the selection following a private ballot. It is the first time that members have overruled the public in a Tory 'open primary meeting' anywhere in the UK."
Neighbouring MP Gary Streeter would be the obvious candidate to oversee a renewal of Plymouth Sutton should CCHQ choose to intervene.
Oliver Colville was chosen by Plymouth Sutton Conservatives yesterday evening to be their candidate to overturn a projected Labour majority of 4,305. This will be Mr Colville's third successive attempt to unseat Linda Gilroy MP. He beat three other candidates in the first round of voting.
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