The Conservative Democratic Organisation is grateful for the opportunity here to outline some of our proposed reforms to the party that it wishes to see in more detail.
Forty per cent say they do, 33 per cent say they don’t – and 28 per cent say that they don’t know.
The broad consensus needed for constitutional change is at odds with the factional spirit in which they have launched their campaign.
The current arrangements were a sop to activists by CCHQ as it seized control of selections, the conference, and so much more in 1998.
32 per cent, roughly one in three panel members, supported such an exchange and 60 per cent, some three in five of the whole, opposed it.
MPs hardly have a great track record of selecting suitable candidates – and the current system allows for coronations when needed.
This year has shown that our current leadership election system is untenable. Yet to replace it should mean compensating members with an expansion of their control of the party, including funds, candidate selection, and policy.
Party members deserve a larger say over policy, candidate selection, and much else. But it must be for the House of Commons to choose the prime minister.
Activists are willing to go along with the Party as long as it’s prepared to go along with them. Which has meant it doing so on the great issues of the day. Which in recent years have boiled down to one – Brexit.
To date, 17,000 members have taken up a ticket to one of our regional events. Don’t miss your chance to question the candidates.
It will give you a stronger voice heard at the top of government; recognise our volunteers and activists; and ensure that we keep on winning election campaigns and keep Labour out of Government.
As the candidates campaign across the country, we must all keep focused on the task of defeating Starmer at the next election.
It splits the difference between a wide submission window and encouraging people to vote later in the campaign.
All the differences between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss pale in comparison to the gulf between our party and Labour.
The purpose of the Conservative Party is to win elections, form a government, and deliver calmly and carefully considered Tory policies for the benefit of the nation. It is not merely to be a voice “making the argument” for conservative ideals.