Gazette

Results of the National Conservative Convention elections

By Jonathan Isaby

This morning at the Conservative Spring Forum the bi-annual full meeting of the National Conservative Convention was held.

Among other business, there was the election of the NCC officers who also sit on the Board of the party.

Two positions were unopposed:

• Jeremy Middleton was unopposed as NCC Chairman
• Fiona Hodgson was unopposed as NCC President

And here are the results for the election of three NCC Vice Presidents:

• Rob Semple - 302
• Charles Heslop - 264
• Paul Swaddle - 241
• Steve Bell - 134
• Parvez Akhtar - 100

Messrs Semple, Heslop and Swaddle were therefore duly elected.

There was a turnout of 418.

Congratulations to the winners; commiserations to the unsuccessful candidates.

Daniel Hamilton appointed Director of Big Brother Watch

By Jonathan Isaby

Following the departure of Alex Deane, Daniel Hamilton has been appointed as his successor in the role of Director of civil liberties campaign Big Brother Watch (having previously been Campaign Director working under Alex).

A regular contributor to these pages, I gather Daniel fought off strong competition for the job, for which I wish him every success.

He said on his appointment:

"I'm delighted to take up the post of Director at what is a critical time for the civil liberties movement in the United Kingdom.  I look forward to building on the excellent work done by the organisation over the past couple of years to achieve real advances in the fight for privacy and personal freedom."

Nine MPs and ex-PPCs appointed as spokesmen for the Tory campaign against AV

By Jonathan Isaby

ConHome can exclusively reveal this morning that the Conservative Party is announcing seven MPs and two unsuccessful candidates at last year's general election as spokesmen for the party's campaign against the Alternative Vote.

They can be expected to play a leading role during the forthconing referendum in highlighting the message of why people should vote against changing our electoral system both in the media and in debates taking place up and down the country.

They are:

• Conor Burns MP (Bournemouth West)
• George Eustice MP (Camborne and Redruth)
• Sam Gyimah MP (Surrey East)
• Kwasi Kwarteng MP (Spelthorne)
• Charlotte Leslie MP (Bristol North West)
• Priti Patel MP (Witham)
• Chris Philp (PPC for Hampstead and Kilburn, 2010)
• Chris Skidmore MP (Kingswood)
• Maggie Throup (PPC for Solihull, 2010)

Here's what some of them have to say about the proposal to change the voting system:

Conor Burns: "The current system we have in place has served the United Kingdom well.  It works.  It provides transparent accountability of MPs to their constituents.  More importantly, it allows the electorate to decisively reward or punish Governments and provides for clear outcomes leading to stable Government.  Under First Past the Post, a winning party can implement the manifesto on which they were returned without recourse to backroom deals, leading to programmes never endorsed at the ballot box. The Alternative Vote is the compromise that no one genuinely wants.  Britain is better by sticking to a system that we know, we trust and that works."

George Eustice: “Our current one person one vote system delivers clear outcomes, strong government and is used by over 70 countries around the world.  Under the Alternative Vote system some people get more votes than others and that’s not fair.  Someone who votes for the BNP would get a second and maybe third bite of the cherry.  That’s not right.   No wonder this system is only used by three countries in the whole world.”

Sam Gyimah: “We need to change the way we do politics. But the Alternative Vote isn’t the answer, because it doesn’t put people in charge - it puts politicians in charge. With AV you lose what everyone knows they’re doing when they enter the polling booth – voting for the MP they want and, by extension, the government they want. And you lose the ability to decisively kick out a government you don’t like. To begin to reinvigorate our politics we’ve got to make our politicians more accountable, approachable and relevant – not create an environment where they can hide away in Westminster making deals behind closed doors about who gets a turn in government this time round.”

Chris Philp: “AV will mean more Hung Parliaments. This means that Governments will get chosen in backroom deals with smaller parties after the election, not by the public. AV transfers the power to choose the Prime Minister from the people to the Lib Dems. No wonder they're so keen on it. Another weakness of AV is that fringe party voters have their voted counted many times - and their fifth or sixth preference could trump a Labour or Conservative first preference. I lost Hampstead & Kilburn by 42 votes at the last election. The BNP polled 300. Why should their sixth preference votes have decided the outcome?"

Chris Skidmore: “I am supporting the No2AV campaign as I firmly believe that First Past the Post gives the most important power of all to the electorate; the ability to eject a failed government. In my view AV is deeply undemocratic. It offers supporters of fringe parties several opportunities to influence the outcome as their second, third or fourth preferences are counted. AV will increase the public scepticism of politics as parties decide the fate of the country in backroom deals. I urge everyone to vote ‘No’ on May the 5th.”

Maggie Throup: “I’m campaigning for a ‘no vote’ because the Alternative Vote just won’t deliver what the ‘yes campaigners’ are promising. Changing the voting system isn’t the way to clean up politics, it’s not the way to make votes fairer and it certainly isn’t the way to make MPs more accountable. Add to this, our country just cannot afford the millions it would cost to implement any new system.”

Here are the latest ways in which CCHQ is distilling those messages (click to enlarge):

Ballot papers for National Conservative Convention election to be re-issued

By Jonathan Isaby

A couple of days ago I heard from several members of the National Conservative Convention that their ballot papers for the elections now underway - details of the candidates are here - had arrived at their homes but been addressed to another member of the NCC, suggesting that a spreadsheet of addresses had mismatched the names and the addresses.

It would seem that this error affected large swathes of ballot papers, since the following email has now been sent to all members of the NCC from Returning Officer, Stephen Phillips:

BALLOT FOR VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

The company we contracted to distribute the ballot papers and accompanying papers have mis-matched a number of names and addresses. This has resulted in a significant number of members of the National Convention receiving ballot papers incorrectly addressed to fellow members of the National Convention.

If you have received an A4 white envelope at your address bearing the name of a fellow National Convention member, it is important that you understand that this envelope contains the cvs of candidates for Vice President, which will not be re-issued.

It is important that we maintain the integrity of this ballot. In view of the large number of inaccuracies, I am declaring the ballot null and void.

The ballot will be re-run using different coloured ballot papers and a fresh Declaration of Identity. Please destroy the light blue ballot paper you have received and the light pink Declaration of Identity. If you have already posted these to me, these will be set aside and you will need to recast your ballot. Candidates' cvs will not be re-issued. An explanatory note will accompany the re-issued ballot.

The mailing house has apologised for the error and is seeking to make amends as quickly as possible.

Downing Street confirms Andrew Cooper as Director of Political Strategy

By Jonathan Isaby

Downing Street has just formally announced the appointment which Tim wrote about about here at the beginning of the week:

The Prime Minister has today appointed Andrew Cooper as Director of Political Strategy. He will be employed as a special adviser.

The Prime Minister said:
“I am delighted that Andrew Cooper has accepted the role. Andrew brings tremendous skill, experience and commitment. I look forward to him joining the team at Downing Street.”

Andrew Cooper said:
“‘I am very pleased to accept this role. I look forward to joining the great team in Downing Street and helping with the important work of the Government.”

At the same time Downing Street announced the appointment of Paul Kirby as Head of Policy Development in the new Policy and Implementation Unit, providing "civil service leadership for the Unit alongside Kris Murrin (who leads on implementation)".

> ToryDiary: Cameron likely to appoint über-moderniser as his head of strategy

Candidates confirmed for the National Conservative Convention elections

By Jonathan Isaby

Nominations closed yesterday for the five elected National Conservative Convention  officer positions which also afford thm a place on the Party Board.

• Jeremy Middleton was unopposed as NCC Chairman
• Fiona Hodgson was unopposed as NCC President

And fIve candidates have been nominated for the three posts of NCC Vice President:

• Parvez Akhtar
• Steve Bell - Currently South East Regional Chairman
• Charles Heslop - A serving NCC Vice President seeking re-election
• Rob Semple - Currently Yorkshire Regional Chairman
• Paul Swaddle - A serving NCC Vice President seeking re-election

The two hyperlinks are for the candidates who I am aware have set up a website. Should the other candidates be doing so, let me know and I will link to those sites too.

Votes will be cast at the meeting of the National Conservative Convention in Cardiff (or in advance by post).

All members of the NCC are entitled to vote.

Tracey Crouch elected to the Executive of the 1922 Committee

By Jonathan Isaby

There has just been an election for a vacancy on the Executive of the 1922 Committee, caused by the resignation of Angie Bray on her appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Francis Maude.

There was a five-way contest for the place which saw Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch elected (beating John Baron, Bob Blackman, Michael Ellis and David Mowat).

Many congratulations to her.

The full '22 line up now stands as:

• Chairman - Graham Brady
• Vice Chairmen - Charles Walker and John Whittingdale
• Secretaries - Mark Pritchard and Christopher Chope
• Treasurer - Brian Binley

And the twelve elected members of the Executive Committee:

• David Amess
• Gavin Barwell
• Peter Bone
• Julian Brazier
• Tracey Crouch
• Philip Davies
• Charlie Elphicke
• Robert Halfon
• Bernard Jenkin
• Priti Patel
• Nicholas Soames
• Andrew Turner

Roger Helmer steps down as Honorary Chairman of the Freedom Association

By Jonathan Isaby

It was only reading the latest issue of Freedom Today, the journal of the Freedom Association, that I was sorry to learn that Roger Helmer MEP recently stepped down as its Honorary Chairman "on doctor's orders".

He had served in that role since April 2007, during which time the TFA - under the energetic directorship of Simon Richards - has grown and been thriving as a campaigning organisation.

Simon said:

"It was with great regret that we accepted Roger's resignation and I would like to thank him for the superb work he has done on our behalf. It has been an immense pleasure to work with a man so committed to freedom in so many areas."

Roger is replaced as Hon Chairman by Professor Tim Congdon, who was last year defeated for the UKIP leadership, although he will remain on the TFA Council.

Aidan Burley appointed PPS to Philip Hammond

By Jonathan Isaby

It was announced last night that Aidan Burley - the Conservative MP elected last year for Cannock Chase on the biggest swing of any new MP - has been appointed parliamentary private secretary to Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary. He replaces Lee Scott, who resigned before Christmas in order to abstain on the vote on tuition fees.

Aidan's first job in politics back in 2002 was in fact working as researcher to none other than... Philip Hammond, when he was trade and industry spokesman in opposition.

Congratulations to him on his appointment.

> ConHome covered the last clutch of PPS appointments in November here.

Peter Bottomley knighted in New Year Honours

by Paul Goodman

The Daily Telegraph points out that until this morning no knighthoods have been awarded to MPs since 2008.  The recipient was Peter Viggers - a reminder, given his prominence in the paper's expenses revelations, why none were awarded last year.

The paper clearly reads the award of one to Peter Bottomley as a cautious move towards the rehabilitation of MPs.  He's been honoured for public service in recognition of his "long and distinguished" parliamentary career, and ConservativeHome offers its congratulations.

Sir Peter, the husband of the former Cabinet Minister Virginia Bottomley, is an established figure on the left of the Party, with a long-term interest in charitable and church issues.  His website notes that he is "a member of...the Transport House branch of the Transport and General Worker's Union."

The Labour MP Anne Begg has also been made a dame.