Richard Holden: Backlash growing after Tory chair gets safe seat

Conservative chairman Richard Holden looks set to be parachuted to safety at the last minute, against the wishes of local Conservatives.

Two local Conservative officials told the BBC that Holden was the only candidate offered by the national party to represent the Essex seat of Basildon and Billericay, with one saying it was a “slap in the face” to local Conservatives.

A minister told the BBC that the measure “went down like a cold bucket”.

Holden has represented North West Durham, almost 300 miles further north, since 2019.

But his seat is being abolished as part of a scheduled review of UK seat boundaries for this year’s election, meaning he has had to find another.

Holden did not respond to requests for comment. A Conservative Party spokesperson: “We do not comment on selections.”

One potential Conservative candidate said: “I speak for a lot of people who are outraged.

“There are several ministers who fight for marginal seats and know they will fall.

“Richard not only gave himself a safe place, but he also used a ridiculous process that no one had ever heard of before.

It comes as the Conservative Party struggles to put together a full list of candidates before the registration deadline on Friday.

Basildon and Billericay have been represented by veteran Conservative MP John Baron since 2001, but he announced last October that he would leave Parliament.

He won the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of 20,412 votes at the last election, making it an attractive area for the party’s candidates this time around.

Richard Moore, chairman of the local association, told the BBC they hoped to get three national party candidates chosen before a later meeting to choose the candidate.

But he said the central party candidate committee called him earlier to say “you just got that one.”

He added that local members were “extremely upset” that the party waited until two days before nominations closed to put forward a candidate.

“All this could have been done in March or April,” he said, adding that the central party “has been sitting on this issue for seven months.”

“People in my constituency didn’t know Richard Holden. We don’t know him. We don’t know what he did,” he added.

“Yes, he’s the party chairman, but so what? What has he done for Basildon and Billericay? Nothing.”

Andrew Baggot, a local Conservative councillor, also criticized the process, calling it “a slap in the face to local councillors, volunteers and members”.

He said association members were “exploring” options to fight the decision.

A Basildon Conservative Association executive board meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday evening to discuss next steps.

“Clearly we are running out of time because nominations have to be made by 4pm on Friday,” Baggot told PA Media.

“We have to organize people. We are deliberately leaving this to the last minute to prevent any action being taken.”

Labor disputes over left-wing candidates including Jeremy Corbyn ally Diane Abbott have made headlines in recent days.

But the process followed by the Conservatives, who are thought to have dozens of seats to fill before Friday, has also provoked discontent within local branches of the party.

As the party struggles to fill seats, the selection process has seen several Conservative councilors chosen to contest relatively safe seats for the party.

Will Tanner, an adviser to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has been chosen to stand for Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket, after reportedly appearing on a three-candidate shortlist drawn up by central office.

David Goss, Sunak’s deputy political secretary, has been selected for Wellingborough and Rushden, while James Clark, a former adviser to Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, is contesting Great Yarmouth.

Local conservative associations are typically involved in the selection and approval of candidates, along with national authorities who approve the selections.

The Labor Party normally gives local branches the choice of a candidate from lists approved by central government.

But the short time before election day on July 4 has reduced the role of local members, with the national party following an accelerated process to fill desired seats, or where deputies are dismissed or suspended.

The Labor candidate in Basildon and Billericay is Alex Harrison, with Stephen Conlay standing for Reform UK and Stewart Goshawk chosen for the Greens.

A full list of candidates will be available on the BBC website after the legal deadline for nominations ends on Friday.