Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

The more I think about this the more I think that Tory HQ should keep out of the selection process. It should be completely and totally down to the local party to select as they know who is most likely to stand a chance. Yes, let HQ offer national candidates but the final decision should be at local level.

It's a surefire way of losing votes if a candidate is imposed.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Since the Conservatives haven't won a General Election in Hyndburn since 1987, with candidates (Hargreaves, Britcliffe x 2, and Mawdsley) chosen by the local party all losing, perhaps C.C.O. think they'll have just a good a chance of providing a winning candidate.

They might think our local Conservative party aren't quite in tune with Nu-Tory thinking, and that we are ready for a more caring, sharing, and huggy candidate here in Hyndburn.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

But in all fairness, they didn't really have much chance nationally in those years either, did they? I don't think Hyndburn was going against the grain at all.

Was Mawdsley a local Tory - I thought he was a shipped in one? I could be wrong.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I really don't think a local candidate would be a good idea for the Tories. The ones that have been rumoured to be put up would lose votes because they are not popular in all areas. I wouldn't vote for the two that have been suggested anyway, even though I voted Tory at the last election.

I think they need to put someone in who the people of Hyndburn would vote for due to the fact that they are standing just for that party, and the voters have no personal feelings for.

Different matter with Labour though. Graham would hold votes because he is popular .. in the main .. :D

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

James Mawdsley wasn't local, but moved here after he was selected by the local Conservative party.

Since Labour didn't win a General Election until 1997, the choices of candidate, made by the local party, haven't proved very appealing, or successful, since 1987.

I can understand the reticence of C.C.O. not wanting to back a candidate that the electorate have already rejected, twice, even if they apparently have the backing of the local party.

Although Brown has hinted that the election will be in late May, in theory it could be called at any time, leaving the Conservatives at a distinct disadvantage, if they don't have an acceptable candidate in place.

It's a real worry.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Does James Mawdsley still live round here - or did he just move here for the campaign and then try somewhere else?

Greg won in 1997.
The MP before that was a Conservative - Ken Hargreaves.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

yer first paragraphs probably a bigger worry.:D

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Greg won in 1992. :p

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Sorry, course he did.

My point was that the Tories nationally, really haven't been a viable opposition for some time, but they did win when things were a bit more balanced. And, now that the current government is hugely unpopular, this is a likely time for Hyndburn to swing back to Tory.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Greg Pope first won the seat, from sitting M.P. Ken Hargreaves, in 1992.

James Mawdsley scarpered soon after his resounding defeat.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

You're wrong.

When Pope won the seat for Labour in 1992, from the popular sitting local M.P., New Labour was but a distant dream, and the Labour party was seen as unelectable, with Kinnock as their leader.

Hyndburn bucked the trend, by electing Greg.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Interestingly Ken Hargreaves was only the fourth Conservative M.P. for the Accrington/Hyndburn constituency.

There was Robert Hodge in 1886.

Ernest Gray, the Coalition Conservative M.P. in 1918.

Henry Proctor in 1931, and then it was solidly Labour until Ken first won in 1983.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I wasn't here then so can't remember - I'll take your word for it.

But in recent years, I don't think that the Tories have had a chance because we've had an established, respected MP, and nationally they haven't been doing brilliantly either.
In the last general election when they made some ground, they put up a man who wasn't local and was chosen by the national party, all be it with the local parties backing, and who spouted some rubbish about euthanasia if I recall.

With Greg standing down and the national party doing quite well, I just think that this is probably their best chance for a long time, if they get the right candidate. I also think that, on the whole, Hyndburn prefers its candidates from either party to be local people.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Are you after hugging Peter :rolleyes::D

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Yes do, because neither was I, but I liked to keep abreast of what was happening in the place of my birth. After all knowledge is power.

I agree that there has never been a better chance for the Conservatives locally, as I pointed out the day Britcliffe threw his hat into the arena, in this thread.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...m-p-47895.html