Since the results of December's survey were published, there has been some debate about how to select candidates for the next EU elections over on ToryDiary and YourPlatform.
Jonathan Evans MEP has a different take on it all:
"I am rather surprised that your survey did not also invite opinions among your correspondents on whether sitting Conservative MPs should also undertake a process of full reselection involving a vote of all Party members in their parliamentary constituencies.
All Party members have been able to participate in the reselection process of the current team of Conservative MEPs on two occasions in the past seven years, but the vast majority of Party members in Conservative constituencies have either never had a say in the choice of their Conservative MP or no say in the last 20 years.
Having received over 96% of the votes of Welsh Conservative Party members participating in the European selection process in 1999 and 2004, I am perfectly prepared to go through whatever selection process the Board of the Party should decide, but I certainly favour consistency in the selection processes between MEPs and MPs."
The idea that MPs should face "proper" reselection contests every four or five years has been mooted a couple of times by ConservativeHome commenters. It's been suggested that new MPs should be reselected automatically (within reason) for their first General Election as the incumbent, but have some sort of contest for each election after that.
There are some clear advantages to this system, such as keeping MPs on their toes (especially so-called "bed-blockers") and ensuring that they have the support of Party activists.
It would certainly cause complications in the short-term, but I think it is worth debating how it could work...
Deputy Editor
