Of course the Tories are watching what their candidates are saying
James Forsyth 6:46pm
Michael Crick has taken to his blog to reveal the contents of leaked
Minutes from a Tory meeting:
I must admit to being distinctly underwhelmed by the monitoring aspect of this story. Does anyone believe that the other two main parties don’t have similar procedures in place? In these days of the internet and the 24.7 news cycle it would be irresponsible not to. The last thing any party wants is to be blindsided by the comments of one of its candidates.“"Care needs to be taken over the candidates that have the potential to embarrass the Party - there will now be a fortnightly meeting to assess the watch-list of candidates, and the reasons they are on the list needs to be taken into consideration."
And the document shows that a Conservative Central Office official has even been appointed to keep a close eye on what these potential trouble-makers get up to:
"The public output e.g. blogs, websites, press releases of candidates will [sic] now to be monitored by a new member of the CRD team," the minutes read. "Let JM or Stephen Gilbert know if there are any problems with candidates - de-selection should be the last option."
What’s more interesting is that there is a watch-list of candidates. Again, this is not a huge shock—but it does suggest that the party already has an idea of who can and cannot be trusted in front of a microphone. Indeed, what would be even more interesting to see than the names of those on the watch-list is the list of those who CCHQ are actively trying to get into the media. There are already some Tory candidates who are being tipped by those in the know to be in the Cabinet within a year or two of entering Parliament.
PS Iis it perhaps worth pointing out that the biggest PR mess involving the current crop of candidates, the Tatler photo-shoot, was actually encouraged by CCHQ
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Comments
Alex R
January 6th, 2009 7:51pmClassic Crick journalism: he thinks it's a story because he's got "secret" doc.
As you say, it is so obvious that it would only be a story if they weren't monitoring their candidates.
Moreover, Crick would be the first to scream incredulity if it transpired that a tory candidate had been "off measure" for months with no censure.
Lou Dacht
January 6th, 2009 8:14pmSo it's special needs Tory candidates we have now. Frigsake.
Tiberius
January 6th, 2009 8:19pmI agree with you, James.
Spelman in the clear, and so Crick resorts to increasingly desperate measures to undermine the party.
wight tory
January 6th, 2009 10:00pmPerhaps the BBC should have one too, Crick, Robinson, Matliss et al should be on it. Paxman was shocking last night, asking George why DC was making all the announcements. Its not like Brown shouts from the roof tops "his vision" and leaves the messy stuff to the UK's own Comical Ali (Dahling) is it. The BBC are really clutching at straws these days aren't they...
Craig Strachan
January 6th, 2009 10:35pmReally, the Tatler thing is considered a mess? I thought it was unremarkable. So Sean Bailey "enjoys comics and South American economics is his spare time". Well, who doesn't?
Plus these days you can pick up a Donna Karan in the sales for an absolute song, or so I'm told.
Dicky
January 6th, 2009 11:45pmIf only the Beeb watched what their presenters say but....
Fergus Pickering
January 7th, 2009 3:37amBoris would never have made it through all this, would he? Let me urge all coffee-housers to look up his interview with The Wall Street Journal. Don't fotget. He could be the next President if the United States.
Nicholas
January 7th, 2009 10:16amAh, the slithery Crick, the Uriah Heep of the BBC. Any pretence of BBC impartiality is blown out of the clear blue water by the Crick's blog on this "story". When, I ask myself, is an entrepreneurial journalist going to reveal the secret documents exposing Crick's links to the Labour Party? How much are they paying him to be an agent provocateur?
Chuck Unsworth
January 7th, 2009 10:26amAstounding naivety from Crick. Does he seriously believe any political party would not be doing this?
Is this man some sort of political journalist? Which local rag does he work for?