Challenge the Chairman

Following on from the first extremely successful "Challenge the Chairman" slot brought to you be Tory Radio and ConservativeHome, you now have another chance to put your questions to Francis Maude, Chairman of the Conservative Party.

• Where does the Bromley by-election leave the party?
• Has the EPP decision seriously damaged David Cameron's credibility?
• Is the A list on track to deliver its intended objectives?
• What else would you like to ask?

The questions will be put to Francis by Jonathan Sheppard from Tory Radio on 18th July.

Please use the comments thread below to raise questions for Francis or email questions to editor@toryradio.com.

THE LATEST TORYRADIO INTERVIEW - WITH FORMER CHANCELLOR KEN CLARKE - IS NOW ONLINE.

Comments

[Chad]

Not a question, but if you do get round to your conhome awards, Jonathan and Francis both deserve one for creating ToryRadio and this excellent regular interaction.

Well done to all involved.

[Old Hack]

Not to put too fine a point on it but why another Francis Maude limelight spot?

These little exposes tell us nothing except what Maude wants us to know, and do nothing to sway or persuade him that anything other than what he believes is right.

Challenging the Chairman is little more than PR for a highly unpopular Party Chairman who is fanatical in his beliefs. Waste of bandwidth IMO.

[Richard]

What does Francis believe caused our underperformance in Bromley?

[Jonathan Sheppard]

So you're a fan then Old Hack?

[Richard]

Actually, strike down my last question. I have a new one now: Is it true that Francis "hissed" he didn't want Guido Fawkes anywhere near the Tory Party Conference (reported in the Independent)? If so, why not?

[Voice from the South West]

Two questions: 1.Why has the Conservative Research Department been broken up?
2. In the wake of the Bromley by-election will a dedicated by-election unit be set up in CCHQ?

[Old Hack]

"So you're a fan then Old Hack?"

No, not a fan of Maude - but that's not the point.

I am concerned that Con Home continues to hold people like Maude to account rather than become another channel for the CCHQ line. What is the point of yet another Q&A session with Maude when in reality there is little more to discuss?

Convince me that this repeated airing of Maude's views is anything more than PR for him.

I'm concerned that the independence and purpose of Con Home is being suborned by the Party Hierarchy.

Power corrupts....

[Chad]

Question for Francis: Are people who oppose equality for homosexuals in the wrong party?

[Chad]

..don't flunk it JS, ask him! :-)

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Good question, Chad. Although the answer will be "yes".

Question to the Chairman: When can inner-city 'majority' Labour seats (like Tottenham) be allowed to select parliamentary candidates? The LibDems select early even in seats that they're unlikely to win. Isn't it unacceptable that Assns. in such seats can only select six months before an election? We need time for our candidates to familiarise themselves with the constituencies and build up profiles. Unless, of course, the Party is happy for us to come 3rd in all non-target Labour seats...

[Chad]

"Good question, Chad. Although the answer will be "yes". "

Perhaps JS, but it is important to hear it clearly stated, and it will make better headlines than the "mincing metrosexuals" line from a previous interview.

[HF]

1) What exactly is Francis going to do to address our poor performance at parliamentary by elections?

2) What actions are being taken to improve policy co-ordination amongst the key players following the recent own goals on HRA and Scotland etc.?

[Alex Swanson]

Not to boast, but simply to make the point - I personally, as an ordinary citizen, have had letters and emails criticising the government printed in recent years in the Times, Telegraph, Independent, Economist, Sun and even once the Guardian; also many read out on the BBC. If I can do it, why are our MPs not?

Why are our MPs also silent on issues of civil liberties and democracy? Why aren't we getting new ideas, for example, on encouraging voting or on Lords reform in order to challenge Labour corruption on postal voting and the sale of honours? Why aren't Conservative MPs standing up against the laws on demonstrating near Parliament, or defending people who get arrested for selling T-shirts opposing the government?

It does seem that the Parliamentary Party is terrified of saying anything that could be misrepresented by the BBC or other MSM. Of course, it would be, but the answer is not to shirk the challenge. Or maybe you're all just lazy. Or too busy with directorships. Or maybe you secretly agree with authoritarian laws because you think you might be able to use them yourselves once in office. (In which case, wake up and smell the coffee - these laws are intended to prevent you ever getting into office again).

Whatever the reason, the mass of MPs are silent, and the leadership shows enthusiasm only for attacking its own activists, with the A-list and primary elections for candidates, on the basis that we're all idiots who can't be trusted to select candidates ourselves.

A golden opportunity is being squandered. We currently have the most deceitful, incompetent, anti-democratic government in British history. A competent and energetic Opposition would be turning them into mincemeat.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Just to confirm Old hack - giving ordinary members and supporters the chance to pose questions to the Chairman is making ConHome - and I assume Tory Radio part of the party machinery. I personally would rather have the opportunity to regularly put questions to a leading politician than have no opportunity to do so.

And obviously - if people don't like the concept of a regular interview they don't have to download it.

[Old Hack]

"Just to confirm Old hack - giving ordinary members and supporters the chance to pose questions to the Chairman is making ConHome - and I assume Tory Radio part of the party machinery.."

NOT SO

But to do so repetitively does raise questions about WHY are you so keen to have our dear beloved Chairman on yet again. For his benefit or ours?

Why not interview some other key player? George Bridges?

It would be interesting to publish the transcript of your interview though - for the record.

[malcolm]

Francis,do you have the courage to reject any form of tax payer subsidy for the Conservative party?

[Chad]

Yes, that would be my only criticism, but a relevant one raised by malcolm on the George Osborne thread that no 'tricky' questions are asked.

I understand that the person may not want to answer certain questions, but it shouldn't be a 'parkinson' type pr exercise.

It was for example, very disappointing that when George Osborne has spoken about the need for tax simplication, he wasn't asked whether he will actually pledge to reduce the number of types of taxation to show there is reality behind the headlines.

[Nelson, Norfolk]

I do hope that FM will allow Guido Fawkes to attend our conference. Conservativehome, Iain Dale and Guido have done sterling work in exposing sleaze etc. Keep up the good work and FM do invite Guido to the conference.

[HF]

3) What are your top 5 priorities for action?

[Richard ROBINSON]

Re: Voice from the South West @11.08

A dedicated by-election team was set up at CCHQ shortly before the Bromley election and headed (I believe) by Ian Sanderson.

I suspect that Bromley came rather too soon after the establishment of this group for it to have been a good test.

[Chris Palmer]

Mr Maude, in the last Challenge the Chairman, you stated that the matter of the reinstatement of the whip to Roger Helmer MEP was a matter for the European Parliament, not the Westminster party.

Firstly, do you have any sympathy with Roger Helmer's plight and our campaign, and secondly, therefore, how is it that the Westminster party (as recently stated over the announcement on the EPP) have the power to take away the whip should any MEP leave the EPP-ED before the new group is formed - but not the power to return the whip which was unjustly and unfairly removed?

[Chad]

Slippery! They have the power to take the whip away (NOTE: to be used on eurosceptics only - see Caroline Jackson) but have no power to reinstate.

I hope you are not seeking to imply that a little fibbing might be going on Chris.

[free democrat]

I remember Francis Maude being quoted in Simon Walters 'Tory Wars' book as despairing because there was no plan. Does David Cameron have a plan? If so how far forward does it extend?

[James Maskell]

With the Conservative Party recommending on its survey a 66% rise in membership fees, can the Chairman assure Associations that they will get a 66% rise in Central Office support? Is this rise not going to put off members who are already struggling to make ends meet? Does he recognise that many members will be deterred from donating to and supporting Associations financially due to this rise?

Im happy with this question and answer session. To see Maude indicating in a previous Q and A session that he wont even put himself in for re-selection under the new selection procedure, we can see how much faith he has in the new system. What is so rich is that he is asking Associations to put all sitting Councillors up for re-selection in the upcoming elections!

Ive had no faith in Maude since he attempted to destroy Party democracy.

[James Maskell]

With the Conservative Party recommending on its survey a 66% rise in membership fees, can the Chairman assure Associations that they will get a 66% rise in Central Office support? Is this rise not going to put off members who are already struggling to make ends meet? Does he recognise that many members will be deterred from donating to and supporting Associations financially due to this rise?

Im happy with this question and answer session. To see Maude indicating in a previous Q and A session that he wont even put himself in for re-selection under the new selection procedure, we can see how much faith he has in the new system. What is so rich is that he is asking Associations to put all sitting Councillors up for re-selection in the upcoming elections!

Ive had no faith in Maude since he attempted to destroy Party democracy.

[Editor]

Thread closed now. Thanks everyone.