Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt from the Right of his party over alleged plans to impose shortlists of parliamentary candidates on Tory associations.
More than 40 MPs, including Liz Truss, Suella Braverman, Sir John Hayes, and Jonathan Gullis, have written to the Prime Minister urging Mr Sunak to stop an attempt to impose a “shortened” selection process for prospective MPs.
The MPs warn that such a move would be “a matter of huge concern to us” and “damage the democratic process”.
The intervention comes amid widespread unease among the Right over Mr Sunak’s approach to major policies such as illegal migration and the legislation designed to overcome legal barriers to the Rwanda deportation scheme.
Senior Tories expect a major clash over the legislation in January after the Prime Minister managed to head off a full scale rebellion last week.
Earlier this year, The Sunday Telegraph revealed concerns among senior Tories that Conservative headquarters (CCHQ) was attempting to “stitch up” safe seats in favour of “blue prince” candidates aligned with Mr Sunak, ahead of an election expected next year.
Talk of CCHQ’s alleged plans to impose “by-election rules” – allowing the party to impose shortlists on associations – on a national scale, as soon as next month, has reignited those concerns.
‘Unjustifiable power-grab’
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “It is standard practice for the party to speed up selection processes as we get closer to a General Election. We will be working closely with associations to make sure we have the most suitable candidates for the new boundaries.”
But the MPs raising concerns say that association sifting committees must be able to choose their own shortlists, which are then voted on by local members.
One of those behind the letter said: “Selecting candidates is the rightful preserve of local party members and any attempt to subvert that democratic process when the election could be as far as a year away would be an unjustifiable power-grab by the centre.
“Forcing shortlists of three handpicked CCHQ favourites onto local associations at this stage would be an affront to members’ democratic rights.
“This is why we want confirmation that until the election is called, the power will remain with local association sifting committees to choose at least six candidates to be considered for the nomination from among the full batch of eligible applications.
“This will ensure that party members are given a free and broad choice of candidates from whom to choose.”
The letter sent to Mr Sunak, also signed by Sir Simon Clarke, the former communities secretary, and Mark Francois, the head of the European Research Group, said: “In exceptional circumstances, such as when Parliament has already been dissolved, the Party may – if it really wishes – imposes a short list on local associations. This is the application of the ‘by-election rules’, which is schedule six, paragraph nine of the constitution. In recent years no leader had done this, other than when Parliament had already been dissolved and an election underway.
“We understand the Party plans to do this from January with no clear rationale.
“We urge you to stop this and instead continue with the current selection process. If the shortened process is imposed in January this would be a matter of huge concern to us and would damage the democratic process.”
The Telegraph has approached CCHQ for comment.
