Tory Activists Slam Selection of Richard Holden as Party Chairman in Basildon
The chairman of the Conservative Party, Richard Holden, was the only candidate shortlisted for the Basildon and Billericay constituency, a Tory stronghold.
The leader of the Conservative group on Basildon Council in Essex criticized the decision to appoint party chairman Richard Holden as the town’s parliamentary candidate without any other options.
Mr. Holden, 39, had previous experience working in Conservative Party central office and was elected as the Tory MP for North West Durham in the December 2019 election.
The constituency, located within the pro-Brexit Labour-dominated Red Wall, has been affected by the latest boundary changes.
Mr. Holden, originally from Lancashire, seems to have engaged in a “chicken run” to secure a safer seat as his previous constituency faced abolition.
John Baron, the previous Conservative MP, held a significant majority in the constituency but announced his retirement in October.
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The decision to nominate Mr. Holden without competition led to backlash from local party members, indicating a lack of transparency and democratic process.
Despite the discontent, Mr. Holden has been positioned as the sole candidate for the seat by the Conservative central office.
Local Conservative group leader in Basildon Council, Andrew Baggott, expressed disappointment in the lack of choice and transparency in the selection process.
‘It Is Not Cricket’
The association’s chairman, Richard Moore, expressed frustration with the lack of transparency and democratic process in the candidate selection.
The association convened to discuss the situation, with concerns raised about the rushed nature of the process and the lack of consideration for multiple candidates.
Mr. Baggott emphasized the urgency of the situation, indicating a lack of time to organize a response to the nomination.
Despite the decision, Mr. Baggott stated his intention to support other Conservative candidates in neighboring regions, rather than campaign for Mr. Holden.
Mr. Moore highlighted the disappointment among association members for the lack of democratic consideration in candidate selection.
The Conservative Party declined to comment on the matter.
The situation echoes another instance of an MP performing a “chicken run,” indicating a common political practice to secure a safer seat.
PA Media contributed to this report.
