Fall-out from Tory crisis talks
BY SIMON HUTCHINSON

Heated meetings, resignations, sackings – just another week of Tory turmoil.

Yet another two candidates will not be seeking election to the new unitary council in June.

Cllr Mollie Foster who represents Clapham Ward, and Cllr Tom Ashby, who represents Bromham on Bedford Borough Council have both confirmed that they will not be seeking re-election.

This brings the total number of Tories who have either been de-selected or have decided to call it a day to ten out of 20 councillors.

The latest names join a list which already includes, Cllrs Nigel Sparrow, Barry Huckle, Peter Hand, Jas Parmar, Robert Harrison, Michael Hurley, Tarsem Paul and John Tait.

Earlier in the week it also emerged that two candidates previously selected to contest Putnoe and Queens Park – former borough councillor Ralph Hall and Tariq Mahmood respectively – have informed the Chairman of the Bedford & Kempston Conservative Association, John Watson, they will also not be seeking election.

Last Saturday Tory big wigs held crisis talks in Bedford to discuss the worsening situation with MPs Alistair Burt and Nadine Dorries meeting the Chairman of the three local Conservative Associations and parliamentary candidate for Bedford and Kempston, Richard Fuller.

The meeting became very heated at one stage according to some Tories who were present.

Another incident this week saw Brickhill councillor Andrew McConnell being removed as a member of the scrutiny committee and replaced by Cllr Sparrow.

One Tory insider said: “We hoped that following the new year things would settle down and we could regain some momentum, but unfortunately they have only got worse.

“There’s a real lack of focus locally and there are major concerns that we won’t be able to find enough candidates, to fight all the seats we need to.

“If things carry on as they are, we could go from being the largest group on the council to a small rump of barely eight councillors with very little say or influence.”

Another Tory said: “Our candidates and councillors are dropping like flies, morale is very low among the candidates and activists and there is a real sense of disillusionment with the weak and ineffective leadership at the top of the group.

“Things are likely to get much worse before they get better and I know of at least three more candidates who are very unhappy and considering whether it’s going to be worth standing or not. There is even talk that a senior member may be considering a high-profile defection to the Lib Dems.”

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Is it true that he spends most of his time in New York!