News from Labour Matters

Revealed: Why Conservatives have trouble selecting ethnic minority candidates

If you’ve ever wondered why the Conservative Party can’t seem to get ethnic minority candidates to stand in winnable seats, then you’ll be delighted to learn that, in Orpington at least, the question seems to have been answered after leaked emails from a Tory councillor emerged today.

It would seem that there are no shortage of candidates of colour coming forward, but according to Councillor Peter Hobbins in an email to Conservative colleagues, “not one of them has a ‘normal’ English name”, and that’s bad apparently.

“Why are the Candidates Department so keen on these foreign names?!!!!” Mr Hobbins laments, adding “maybe I should change my name to something foreign – how does Petrado Indiano Hobbinso sound to you?!”

It sounds pretty racist to us, now you’re asking Councillor Hobbins.

UPDATE: Councillor Peter Hobbins is expected to be suspended, but not sacked, from the Conservative Party by Conservative Central Office.