THE CONSERVATIVE Party’s chosen Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for Bromsgrove has won a ‘confirmatory’ vote and will now stand next year’s general election.
Bradley Thomas was initially unveiled back in August following the decision by current MP Sajid Javid not to recontest his seat and after getting the backing of Bromsgrove Conservative Association.
But, as we reported last month, there was then controversy when the BCA was ordered by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) to hold tonight’s ballot to confirm he had the support he needed.
‘Claims of high flyer plan’
There were claims in the national media that plans were afoot to try and replace local candidate Mr Thomas with an alternative ‘high flyer’ preferred by CCHQ and that local party members were not happy with what the national arm of the party was doing.
We contacted the national Conservative Party head office and a spokesperson said: “Due to an irregularity in the selection process, a confirmatory vote will be held by members of the Conservative Party to confirm the adoption of the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Bromsgrove Constituency.”
On conservativehome.co.uk it was reported the special general meeting was triggered after it was found ‘attendees who voted in the original selection poll were ineligible to do so’. It added the ‘confirmatory vote’ would be similar to the process followed by sitting MPs seeking readoption, allowing members to question Mr Thomas and then vote on whether they wish to keep him as a candidate.
The report on the website added, if the members declared they had ‘no confidence’ in Mr Thomas, the selection process would begin again.
But after tonight’s vote, it as confirmed Mr Thomas – who had quit his role as leader of Wychavon District Council to stand in Bromsgrove – will remain the PPC.
Click below to watch the result being announced at the Bromsgrove Conservative Association meeting.
Addressing BCA members in his post-vote speech, Mr Thomas said: “Thank you to the emphatic endorsement you have given me this evening.
“The campaign fight goes on – I’ll be out tomorrow in Bromsgrove town centre.
“But in the meantime, let’s have another glass of mulled wine and I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas.”
The Labour Party is yet to unveil its PPC for the general election and the Liberal Democrats have selected long-term campaigner and current Bromsgrove District Councillor Dr David Nicholl.
