Barely a week after the welcome decision of Nadhim Zahawi to stand down, the bunfight to win the Conservative nomination to be the official Conservative candidate for Stratford has turned into a thoroughly unedifying spectacle.
The Stratford Conservative’s official WhatsApp group discussing interested candidates has already been shut down after the names leaked online.
Such is the level of interest in what is notionally a safe Tory seat, the local Association has launched an Eventbrite page where wannabe Stratford MPs can sign up to go canvassing.
The notion that visiting Stratford to knock on a few doors makes you a worthwhile candidate for local people is frankly insulting and Stratford CAN’s advice would be, if you get a Conservative knock on your door, tell them to choose a local candidate or otherwise you will be voting for us!
We have raised fears about parachute politicians for some time and it seems our worst fears are coming true.
One unnamed candidate has been quoted online as saying:
“Stratford is causing some consternation. Number 10 are taking a direct interest and pushing displaced MPs (and MPs who will lose and looking to move). They are also pushing Tanner, Payne, David Goss etc..”
In other words, the central Conservative Party is already interfering and trying to ensure Stratford is lumbered with either a sitting MP who can’t hold his seat elsewhere or a favoured Special Advisor.
Neither will have any links or interests in local matters, and all will use Stratford as a platform for their own political ambitions rather than as an opportunity to work for local people.
This shows the level of contempt that the Conservative Party centrally has for local voters here in Stratford.
But don’t worry. If the Stratford Conservatives don’t choose a local candidate to fight this seat, Stratford CAN will be running a strong local conservative candidate against them.
You can find out about all the names being linked with the Stratford seat here.
You can find out how Stratford Conservatives will be choosing their candidate here.