MP's seat bid ends in a tie
South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack's future as Tory candidate for the seat at the next General Election was still hanging in the balance today after a ballot among constituency party activists ended in a tie. South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack's future as Tory candidate for the seat at the next General Election was still hanging in the balance today after a ballot among constituency party activists ended in a tie. A high turnout of members of the constituency executive failed to produce a conclusive result, and now Sir Patrick's candidacy will be decided by a ballot of all Conservative Party members in the constituency. The long-serving MP invoked his right to a ballot of all members last night after the result of the secret ballot of the executive was declared a tie by regional party officials. Read the full story in today's Express & Star
The long-serving MP invoked his right to a ballot of all members last night after the result of the secret ballot of the executive was declared a tie by regional party officials.
A vote among the executive in February, which deselected the MP by one vote, was declared null and void by party chiefs in London because of "irregularities" in the way it was conducted.
Since then there have been a number of changes to the make-up of the executive committee, but Sir Patrick still lives to fight another day.
Sir Patrick, who has been an MP for South Staffordshire constituencies for 27 years, said last night: "I am not surprised by this result because there has been a significant change in the membership of the executive over the last three months, with a lot of new members coming on to it.
"I shall now exercise my right to appeal to the full constituency membership of something over 500 people. I very much hope that this will decisively and completely resolve the matter."
Conservative Party members in South Staffordshire will be given several weeks to cast their votes because of the onset of the holiday season.
A final result is expected to be announced in September.
By John Hipwood
