Tory chief claims mayoral selection was 'hijacked'

BY CHRIS GILL

Snubbed tory leader Nicky Attenborough has launched a scathing attack on her party claiming Monday's open primary to elect a mayoral candidate was 'hijacked'.

She says the meeting, which was attended by more than 400 people who endorsed Parvez Akhtar as the runner, was a 'disgrace' and claims after protesting about a 90-minute delay to get people into the hall that she was told she could 'always go home'.

Mrs Attenborough, Dr Jason Reddy, Tom Wootton and Mr Akhtar were quizzed by commentator Iain Dale and then by the audience as they staked their claims for the chance to replace Frank Branston as Mayor on October 15.

But, in what might be read as a reference to the large number of people who attended from the Asian community, she says, in an email to Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles: 'From where I was sitting, I could see the Liberal Democrats on the front row, Labour on the back row and a sea of faces who couldn't even understand what the candidates were saying.'

Mr Parvez romped home on the first vote to enormous cheers at Dame Alice Harpur School, leaving supporters of his opponents stunned.

In Mrs Attenborough's email, copied in to Tory chief David Cameron and leaked to Bedfordshire on Sunday, she says: 'Exactly why should anyone become a member of the Conservative Party when they can walk off the streets into any selection meeting and choose the most unsuitable candidate, if they want, without knowing anything about them, or go to a meeting with the leader without having to pay £20 for the privilege.

'It is my opinion that Monday night was quite disgraceful. The members, who had been told to get there by 7.30pm, were left sitting there for two hours and the candidates locked in one nasty classroom for two hours and told nothing.

'When I protested at the shambles that was occurring outside, I was told by our minder, 'you can always go home'.

'What followed was quite shameful, for a party that prides itself on its efficiency and democracy.

'It was very obvious that the meeting had been hijacked and quite clearly, from where I was sitting, I could see the Liberal Democrats on the front row, Labour on the back row and a sea of faces who couldn't even understand what the candidates were saying.

'So how could you say that this was a Conservative selection procedure? It was a joke and the backlash has been very severe. Especially since the members were written and told they would have a private meeting in the end to endorse the candidate.

'Despite several angry protestations from the floor, this was ignored, and people with a green band were told to put their hands up. Quite frankly, it just seemed the icing on a very bad cake.

'You have treated loyal members of this Party with utter contempt, people who fundraise for you, support you financially, go out in the good years and the bad, in all weathers to deliver and canvass for you, sit in polling stations for you, and up to now, were proud to stand for the Conservative Party.

'If we don't matter, or the days when our support is 'long gone', tell me, why should we support you? 'I believe you, as Chairman of the Conservative Party, owe the members of three local Associations, who turned out for this meeting, a sincere apology.'

■ Meanwhile, seven candidates will fight it out to become mayor of Bedford.

The nominations are Cllr Parvez Akhtar (Conservative), Cllr Apu Bagchi (Independent), Tony Hare (Independent), Cllr Dave Hodgson (Liberal Democrat), Ray Hostler (Independent), Eve Robinson- Morley (Green) and James Valentine (Labour).

The BNP has not put forward a candidate.

The election will take place on Thursday, October 15.