A little late but here's what I think of the Bromley & Chislehurst selection. I wrote a week ago that I thought Bromley Conservatives should play safe and if they had a good local candidate they should pick him or her. And that's exactly what they've done. Driving up to the BBC last night I was laughing out loud as Mike Seargent, BBC Political Correspondent told John Pienaar on 5 Live that ihis selection represented a "slap in the face" for David Cameron. Yeah, right. Bob represents Bromley at the GLA. He is leader of the Tory group on the GLA. He's well regarded by virtually everyone. He was also a vocal supporter of David Cameron in the leadership campaign (as well I remember!). OK, he's not black, gay, disabled or any other minority. So what. He's the best man for the job and they were right to pick him. It's very frustrating that some of the posters on ConservativeHome don't appear to believe that we're all in the same Party. Let's just get on with the job and give Bob all our support. Let's also remember that two of the three people in the final were A Listers. From what has been posted by people at the selection meeting Bob Neill outperformed the other two by a mile. I'm sure he'll repeat the performance during the by election campaign. I hope to see many of you down in Bromley during the course of the week.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Bob Neill Needs All Our Support
A little late but here's what I think of the Bromley & Chislehurst selection. I wrote a week ago that I thought Bromley Conservatives should play safe and if they had a good local candidate they should pick him or her. And that's exactly what they've done. Driving up to the BBC last night I was laughing out loud as Mike Seargent, BBC Political Correspondent told John Pienaar on 5 Live that ihis selection represented a "slap in the face" for David Cameron. Yeah, right. Bob represents Bromley at the GLA. He is leader of the Tory group on the GLA. He's well regarded by virtually everyone. He was also a vocal supporter of David Cameron in the leadership campaign (as well I remember!). OK, he's not black, gay, disabled or any other minority. So what. He's the best man for the job and they were right to pick him. It's very frustrating that some of the posters on ConservativeHome don't appear to believe that we're all in the same Party. Let's just get on with the job and give Bob all our support. Let's also remember that two of the three people in the final were A Listers. From what has been posted by people at the selection meeting Bob Neill outperformed the other two by a mile. I'm sure he'll repeat the performance during the by election campaign. I hope to see many of you down in Bromley during the course of the week.
"He's the best man for the job"
ReplyDeletePerhaps an inappropriate choice of words?
Unfortunately all the major media outlets have run with the line that Neill's selection was a snub to Cameron and the A list. Labour have been happy to pick it up too.
ReplyDeleteWell said Iain.
ReplyDeleteWe had a good shortlist, which included two well thought of 'A' Listers but Bob was not only the best on the night, he comes with a first rate record as the local GLA member.
Bob is not only well respected by party activists because he is always willing to canvass throughout Bromley and Bexley but also by residents groups and constituents.
He will make an excellent MP.
What is interesting is, had Bob applied for the list, outside the by-election the likelihood is that like most of his contemporaries he would have been turned down for being a white, middle-age man.
Let's hope that the party has a rethink about the 'A' List and includes many of those men in their 30s and 40s who have fought for years for the party and find themselves sidelined in favour of people who have little or no experience. People like Dominic Schofield who came within 163 votes of winning Battersea deserve better treatment.
who said that a policyless Tory party is not a joy to observe?
ReplyDeleteMy very good inside source within Tory hierarchy, informs me that today,Cameron, Hague and (another?)have been very busy trying to stop the defection of two Tory MP's to the Labour party.
Can you imagine how much joy this has bought to me?
I'm told that crossing the floor is imminent and "Dave" is doing all he can to persuade them to stay.
You're making it up Gary, aren't you? No I'm not this has come from a very senior Labour party figure that has been in on the deal from the start.What joy!
Gary
Gary, that is the funniest thing I've reads for months. Who would jump from a lifeboat onto the Titanic??
ReplyDeleteThink someones been pulling your plonker mate.
I do think this fuss over the "A list" is overblown. It's important to choose the most appropriate person in something like a bye-election. When it comes to who is going to fight what in the melee of the next General Election I think having a bundle of pre-approved favoured candidates is a good one. But bye-elections are special cases IMHO. I'm not saying they've chosen the right person - I'm agnostic on that - I just think more flexibility is appropriate in such high profile fights.
ReplyDeleteYeah Gary.....and Tony Blair is defecting to the Baath Socialist Party (Iraq Branch). Syrian Branch is said to be very annoyed as they wanted Tony.
ReplyDeleteIf your source is someone 'senior in the Labour party'Gary Elsby,you must be very naive or a bit simple to believe them.Haven't you realised yet that what 'senior people in the Labour party' do is TELL LIES!
ReplyDeleteIf by some miracle they are right it will be the first time in history that rats have got on a sinking ship.
While I could easily imagine an MP or two pottering off, I find it impossible to believe they'd be going to Labour... UKIP maybe, but not Labour.
ReplyDeleteAs for Bob Neill, he reminds me a lot of the selection of Robert Evans in Brent East by Labour - looks good on paper, but actually an open goal to shoot at. This is my take, as a Lib Dem, on his selection, the reaction, and the Conservative Home reportage.
Sam Coates
ReplyDeletePiss off back to your dreary blog (ConservativeHome) and rejoice that Cameron has just taken us to a 10 point lead. (Mori poll in The Sun)
Whilst I agree that he is a good candidate, the only possible snag is that he is a pro-european, which might cause problems with respect to some of our lot choosing to vote either for UKIP or for one of the two independent conervatives who have announced their intention to run in the by-election.
ReplyDeleteOh well, don't say I didn't warn you.
ReplyDeleteI have confirmed that that it is definitely two (not one) Tories that are about to jump ship.
I now know who the third person is who is battling to keep them onside.
Apparently, no-one will be surprised at the move and UKIP/BNP is not an option but I'm puzzled at why not Lib Dem.
But the switch is imminent.
William Hague is credited with being the most honest man in parliament (therefore in you ranks)
Question to William: Have you been attempting to keep two of your members onside? A very simple question don't you think?
Gary
Andrew asks a very good question: who would jump ship onto the titanic?
ReplyDeleteI know full well that they will be accomodated very well within the LP and I gather they are being offered senior posts to jump.They actually believe in what belive in so you really are in trouble here I'm very pleased to say
Gary
Re: your criticism of mike sergeant. Be aware there was extensive coverage by BBC News from Chiselhurst and Bromley on Saturday. My reporting on both the TV Ten O'clock news and the Radio 4 midnight news reflected that this decision may have appeared to be a slap in the face for the leadership but that David Cameron's people were 'delighted' about Neill's selection. We gave due emphasis to the fact that the selection of the final three candidates also illustrated, to a certain extent, that this bluest of assocaitions had heeded, if not fully accepted, the leaders's message about change.
ReplyDeleteIain
ReplyDeleteAs an outsider, I thought the selection was a bit of a kick in the teeth for the A list. Bob Neill won easily and beat two A list candidates. Was this the local members saying what they thought of the A list. Mind you, there were only around 100 people there out of a boasted membership of over 1000. Was this a comment by the local membership on the exclusion of all local candidates? Bob Neill might be the local GLA member, but he lives in Tower Hamlets. Also, he has said he isn't going to give up his GLA seat and is still working as a barrister. How can the party campaign for '3 jobs'?
What are they being offered prezza's job????
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of Bull!!!
Surely Bromley is one of the safest Tory seats in the country? Short of picking Pol Pot, there is a pretty good chance of keeping the damned thing.
ReplyDeleteYou can take playing it safe to ludicrous extremes. Cameron keeps saying he wants more diversity. Would it really have been so "dangerous" to pick a candidate who added diversity? I am sure Bob Neill is a decent enough chap, but it's a missed opportunity. And if the Conservatives play it safe for this sort of seat, can they really be expected to swallow David's diversity medicine when selecting for a marginal seat?
1. There were about 300 members present. Not bad for 5 days notice in half term week.
ReplyDelete2. Bob Neill was the best speaker and answered the questions concisely and with wisdom and commonsense.
Bob has represented the area for 6 years in a very diligent fashion.
So he should have not been choosen beacuse he is a white middle aged barrister? I thought we believed in selection on merit!