Political Scrapbook has the story:
The constituency of Hyndburn, Lancashire has been left “without a functioning Conservative Association” after its entire leadership resigned in protest at a selection shortlist forced upon them by Tory high command. The list excluded the Conservative leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, Peter Britcliffe, who had made no secret of his desire to contest the seat.
You can read the full story here.
Andy Rankine is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hyndburn. You can get in touch, read news or offer to help via his Facebook page or the local party website.
PS Hyndburn Council is the one, you may recall, that doesn’t like people photocopying the internet.
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3 Comments
Even if the Tories weren’t currently in meltdown, Hyndburn is not natural territory for them and if Mr Rankine is ever to secure second place it is liable to be at their expense. Consequently he should be focusing on Tory wards and voters. In Leyland the opposite is true, so Labour should be the target for the Lib Dems there.
Considering that I live in Accrington when I’m not in Aberystwyth, I think I can spread a little light on this.
To say that Britcliffe desired to be the MP for Hyndburn is a tad of an understatement. He was passed over in ’05 and with Greg Pope standing down he probably assumed he was the best choice. Then the Tory HQ screws him over and the entire thing turns into a farce.
I can’t claim to have any sympathy whatsoever, because Hyndburn Council can’t find their backsides with both hands and a roadmap. I’ve got plans of my own for a Liberal Democrat movement in Hyndburn – here’s hoping that our PPC there pulls a good number of voters to us (we were at 15% or so last election) and that we can start something that can build up for 2015 or whenever.
Clarification: Greg Pope is the Labour MP for Hyndburn.