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‘Interfering’ Tories are warned of more revolts by the Turnip Taliban
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor17 Nov 2009
David Cameron was warned to expect fresh “Turnip Taliban” revolts by local Tory associations today after a would-be MP survived a deselection attempt.
High-flyer Liz Truss was endorsed overwhelmingly by Norfolk South West Conservatives despite claims that she and party chiefs failed to tell activists about her extra-marital affair.
Ms Truss dismissed the controversy about her private life as “flim-flam” and vowed to direct her fire against the Government.
She told the Standard today: “I am looking forward to campaigning and I will focus on Labour's failure to deliver on infrastructure and the economy.”
Party sources said Mr Cameron was “delighted” by Ms Truss's victory, which followed bitter accusations that the local party was not fully told of her affair with Tory MP for Cities of London and Westminster, Mark Field. But John Strafford, chairman of the grassroots Campaign for Conservative Democracy, hit out at the way the selection process has been handled in Norfolk, where opponents of Ms Truss were dubbed the “Turnip Taliban”.
Mr Strafford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Norfolk activists had “unfurled the banner of freedom and democracy” in opposing centralised control of favoured candidates.
“They've had the guts and the courage to stand up to the bully boys from Central Office who are trying to impose their views on associations.
“I hope that many associations will take heart from South West Norfolk and that they will stand up to the interference,” he said.
Mr Cameron is determined to get more women and ethnic minority candidates into safe Tory seats, but grassroots campaigners resent the way recent selections have been handled.
Ms Truss made clear she wasn't happy with the way the row had developed. “Of course there is an element of hurt. What the people here really want is somebody who is going to live locally and address the issues,” she said.
“That is what I am going to do and they are not interested in the kind of flim-flam there has been in the press.”
ConservativeHome.com's Tim Montgomerie also warned of rebellions. He said: “Norfolk won't be the last of its kind if HQ carries on interfering.”
Reader views (7)
I agree with Steve, Brentford; there are bound to many Tories in deepest darkest Norfolk, and other rural areas, who feel that their candidate has been undemocratically thrust upon them (although I could think of worse things to have thrust upon me than Miss Truss, ooer missus!)by the aloof career politicians of Troy High Command, and I would take this opportunity to remind them all that UKIP would indeed be a more democratic and more conservative option for them than the Cameroons of BlueLiebour.
The time for real change is upon us, folks, and you won't get it from the "big three."
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 17/11/2009 13:19
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Flash may be a spin meister par excellence but in these troubled, post nation state times he needs every mate he can get. Gratuitously insulting loyal tories is not a good start.
Anyone who votes for him in Norfolk having been referred to as "Taliban" deserves everything they get and trust me, they'll get it. Time for a UKIP candidate me thinks.
- Steve, Brentford, 17/11/2009 11:44
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Let's admit it. She won't be in the Shadow Cabinet, but she will be sitting just behind David Cameron at Prime Minister's Question Time. He really is the King of Spin.
- Bill Bailey, Basing England, 17/11/2009 10:18
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Both major parties look upon electors in "their" safe seats as so much voting fodder. The events in Norfolk merely demonstrate that all the utterances about restoring democracy, in the aftermath of the expenses scandal, are nothing more than platitudes.
It is to be hoped that elctors in Norfolk and Salford, to name but two, deliver a huge two-fingered salute to the Tory and Labour machines.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 17/11/2009 09:31
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If I remember rightly, when the Tories were last in power one of the reasons the voting public despaired of them was the proliferation of extra-marital affairs that were taking place.
Didn't they threaten to bring in a privacy law as a result of the press highligting these indiscretions.
"Call me Dave" had better start sorting out a few things otherwise he will be as guilty as Broon & Co. for pushing people to vote for the fringe partys.
- Mark H, London England, 17/11/2009 09:26
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There used to be a system when local constituency associations chose a candidate from those who applied directly. It is called democracy.
Now the constituency associations are allowed to choose only from a Central Office prepared short list. It means that the party and therefore its policies are no longer determined by the grass roots but centrally. This is far from democracy as we know it.
Mrs. Truss is guilty of economy with the truth and the local constituency activists are clearly dissatisfied with her. As a result of Central Office pressure, she has managed to retain the candidacy to the disgust of many in the constituency.
As a result this now looks like a very good target seat for UKIP to whom the dissatisfied Tories can defect at the General Election and make their feelings clear to David Cameron and Central Office
- Martin Fielding, London, England, 17/11/2009 09:15
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The Norfolk Turnips have been defeated and Central Office triumphed. Cameron has managed to install one of his favourites into a winnable seat. The pity is that both Bagge and Truss are unrepresentive of modern Britain.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 17/11/2009 07:59
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