It’s all a barrel of gaffes at CCHQ these days. The latest slip-up comes in the form of a leaked memo in which party staff criticised Conservative MPs for failing to ‘get behind’ the election campaign — accusing some of focusing too much on ministerial business, others of being more concerned with holiday plans and adding that a number of seats were rather low on funds. Oh dear…
The controversial email in question delivered to Tory politicians was mistakenly sent with two attachments: one with a constituency breakdown with constructive comments, and another with rather frank remarks about what CCHQ staff thought of the Conservatives’ campaign efforts. The memo focused on key seats that are thought to be part of CCHQ’s ’80/20′ strategy — where resource is focused on the 80 most marginal seats and the 20 most likely constituencies to be gained.
The note listed a number of Tory politicians who were not thought to be fully supporting campaigning, including nature minister Rebecca Pow who was accused of ‘still focusing too much on “ministerial business”‘ and being ‘noncommittal on time she will spend in the seat now and during the campaign’. Meanwhile Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton was slammed for ‘refusing to engage’, with the memo noting that she ‘wants to cancel this week’s campaigning sessions’. The document went on to detail which politicians had prioritised personal events over political postering. Ian Levy, candidate for the new Northumberland/Tyne & Wear seat, was recorded as having ‘used his 80/20 week to attend a wedding’, while Cheadle’s Mary Robinson was down as being ‘away for seven days on holiday’.
Candidate attitudes aren’t the only things bothering CCHQ however. As campaigns kick off, party staff are also concerned with money problems. In the Plymouth Moor View seat of veterans minister Johnny Mercer, it was noted that support had been offered as there was an issue with ‘MP co-operation with CCHQ’ and ‘funding issues — currently £2,000 in bank’. Deputy chairman of the party James Daly is facing funding problems in his Bury North constituency too, with the document stating there were ‘low funds, circa £2,000, met with donors but so far no donations’. Meanwhile Frome and East Somerset, as well as Glastonbury and Somerton, were said to ‘urgent need’ better funding. Mr S would have suggested candidates take a leaf out of the SNP’s book and set up Crowdfunders — but that doesn’t seem to be going too well either…
As one might imagine, the rather embarrassing gaffe hasn’t been received well by politicians. One MP blasted CCHQ for its ‘rank incompetence’, while another fumed the slip-up would ‘piss everyone in marginal seats off in the first week.’ An apology has now been offered to email recipients — but it’s hardly the slickest start to election season…
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