At his press conference yesterday, I asked David Cameron whether he would advise Conservative MPs to announce before Christmas whether they intended standing down or not - on the basis that those announcing after January 1st 2010 will see shortlists imposed on their constituency Conservative association.
Alas Mr Cameron simply said: "It's up to individuals to decide when to make the announcement".
Previously, party chairman Eric Pickles told ConservativeHome that he did want his colleagues to "make their minds up before Christmas in order that associations get 'the widest possible choice they can'."
I agree - and today am sending the following letter to the 166 Conservative MPs who have not announced that they are standing down, in order to seek undertakings that if they are going to go, that they will announce their intentions before Christmas and ensure that their associations do not have to select under the restrictive by-election rules...
Dear Member of Parliament,
You will be aware that David Cameron has said that where a sitting Conservative MP announces his or her intention to stand down at the general election after January 1st 2010, the so-called 'by-election rules" will come into play for selecting a successor.
In other words, the usual application process will be ditched and CCHQ will simply give a list of only three or four names to an association from which to select a new candidate.
This is in contrast to the current standard process whereby elected local association officers get to choose who makes the shortlist.
As of today, 33 of your colleagues have already stated they will not be seeking re-election as a Conservative candidate at the general election, which is now a matter of a few months away.
Given the restricted freedom that associations will have over the selection process in seats where Members announce their retirement in the New Year, I believe it would be respectful to those hard-working activists for Members to make their intentions clear before Christmas as to whether or not they intend to seek re-election.
All those that do announce their retirements before Christmas will allow their associations the maximum choice of candidates allowed under the current rules; those who wait until after Christmas will leave their members by-passed and given a centrally-imposed shortlist from which to select a new candidate.
So I am writing to you today to ask you the following:
- Have you been re-adopted to stand at the general election and is it your intention to be a candidate at the general election?
- Do you undertake to make a final decision about whether to seek re-election before Christmas, i.e. not to announce your retirement - save an unforeseen health problem - at such a time that would restrict the rights of your members in choosing a successor?
I am publishing this letter on ConservativeHome, where I will also be collating and publishing your answers to the above questions.
I am very grateful for your time and I look forward to your response.
With best wishes,
Jonathan Isaby
Co-Editor, ConservativeHome
