News from Labour Matters

Leaked Conservative document reveals façade of changed attitudes

The Daily Mail reports on the contents of a leaked Conservative document which shows that Conservative HQ is “tricking” local Associations into selecting women and ethnic minority candidates, while falsely claiming that any success is the result of changed Party attitudes. Quoting the Conservative document ‘Action Plan for Candidate Selection in Safe Seats’:

“The party has little direct leverage over associations, consisting of volunteers who guard their local autonomy jealously and value their ability to choose future MPs. Nevertheless not only can objections be overcome, they MUST be overcome.

“The clever approach is to maintain the illusion that a good cross-section of approved candidates is being offered.

“There are several reasons why the Party should not publicly proclaim the new methodology. The more that the profusion of women, black, Asian or gay candidates appears to be the result of spontaneous open-mindedness on the part of grassroot activists the greater will be the accolades.”

Read the full article.

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