In part two of the Constituent Spring, Tim Yeo’s constituency association has just voted not to re-adopt him as their Conservative candidate. The Tory MP had appealed against the decision of the South Suffolk Conservative Association’s decision to deselect him, and the result of the vote on this was announced today.
Yeo said:
‘It has been a privilege to serve as MP for South Suffolk since 1983. I will continue to work for all my constituents until the General Election next year. I am immensely grateful to all those Conservative Party members who voted for me to continue as their MP. I now ask them all to campaign for my successor with the same loyalty and dedication they have shown to me.
‘I will give my full and unqualified support to whoever is chosen as the candidate here in South Suffolk. I wish him or her every success.’
Toby Kramers, Chairman of South Suffolk Conservative Association said:
‘This has been a difficult time for the Association. Our priority now is to work together for success in the European elections later this year and in the General Election in 2015.’
I’m sure Lady Bracknell would have had something to say about what the loss of two MPs in one week says about the Conservative party. It certainly says a great deal about how happy constituency associations are to flex their muscles against an MP who they don’t feel is pulling their weight (contrary to some reports, the circumstances cited by both associations relate to Yeo and McIntosh’s competence and commitment, rather than their beliefs about green energy or the fact that McIntosh is a woman). Any MP who doesn’t have particularly good relations with their local association will be quaking in their boots.
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