It has been a nervous time for the Conservative Party's approved candidates waiting to hear if they have been promoted to the A-list. Letters went out on Tuesday to all of those people who had been promoted in the top-up and I know of a number of candidates who have been anxiously awaiting the morning post.
'No letter? Does that mean I'm still a B-lister or has my letter been delayed?'
CCHQ decided not to send all candidates a letter. For the sake of a 23p postage stamp the candidates' department could have afforded candidates the courtesy of a note that explained that they weren't on the list. They might even thought of sending an email.
Iain Dale - added to the A-list this week - wrote about CCHQ's lack of basic courtesy towards candidates yesterday:
"Since the original 'A' List correspondence I think I am right in saying that not a single letter or email has been sent out to non 'A' List candidates, apart from those exhorting them to help in various by-elections. Some candidates have not even been alerted to the fact that a seat in their locality is selecting - should candidates really have to learn about this from ConservativeHome? This is not the way to keep people motivated. There needs to be a complete rethink about the way the Party communicates with its candidates - who are, after all, the 'poor bloody infantry'."
4pm update: At just after midday today CCHQ sent out an email that included this message -
"The priority list assessment panel met late last month and letters have now gone out to those who have been promoted to the list of priority candidates. When we wrote to you in April, our letter stated that we would inform you if your status as a candidate had changed. Letters were posted 1st Class on Tuesday 1st August, so I am sorry to say that unless you have received a letter then your status will not have changed. Inevitably, some of you will be very disappointed. This does not mean that your commitment to the Party and your hard work is not appreciated and valued. We do hope you will continue with this. There will be a further top up of priority candidates after the Conference in October, so if there are any particular factors that you think the panel should consider at that time, do please submit this via email and it will be placed on your file."