Mark Clarke and the safe seat myth

How did those accused of bullying in the Conservative party’s youth wing get away with it? The central party, which appears to be slowly waking up to the fact that it can’t mark its own homework with an internal investigation into the events preceding Elliott Johnson’s death, may have been so desperate for help ferrying its limited number of young activists around the country that it jumped at the offer from Mark Clarke (who denies all the allegations put to him over the past few weeks). But those unhappy at the state of affairs seem to have been held back from complaining by something else: the threat to their careers.

Account after account of the scandal includes references to the need to impress the powers that be enough to get a safe seat. Either it was Mark Clarke’s desire to get selected for a safe seat, or activists worried that in some way fessing up or not falling in with the Clarke crew would damage their chances.