Guide for the Selection of Local Government Candidates

PROCEDURE FOR THE SELECTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES

This procedure is published under the powers of the Party Board under the Party Constitution Schedule 6 item 12

“ Power of the Board to determine the procedure by which Constituency Associations and other bodies select Candidates.

The Board may, through the Committee on Candidates, from time to time publish mandatory rules as to the procedure by which Constituency Associations and other bodies select Candidates for all or any public elections.”

The procedure is therefore mandatory.

INTRODUCTION The right choice of candidate can make a considerable difference to the prospects of the Party for winning a seat. It is important that a candidate chosen to represent the Party is the most suited to the seat and that he or she is seen to be the choice of the Party membership. It is also important that the Party has had the opportunity to discover if a potential candidate has any “skeletons in the cupboard” before he or she is selected.

The procedure has been based on the following principles:

o For someone wishing to be selected for the first time the process should be as simple, fair, open and as streamlined as possible.

o For a sitting councillor, preferential treatment in the process will be given in their current seat, but not automatic reselection. If a new council is being created, for example a new unitary, the Party does not consider there to be any sitting councillors.

o Branches will have a reasonable degree of autonomy in their choice of prospective candidate.

o Party members will have a reasonable amount of involvement in the selection of the prospective candidate within their ward or division.

o All votes in the selection process must be by secret ballot.

The process breaks down into three distinct stages:

o Stage 1 – the Candidates’ List. o Stage 2 – Branch Committee vetting. o Stage 3 – Members’ choice.

Each stage is explained in detail below.

1 Please note that prior to taking part in the selection process all applicants must complete the Party’s mandatory application form (for new candidates) or re-approval form (for sitting councillors who wish to be selected).

The only appeal possible regarding the process is on the grounds that the process was not carried out in accordance with these rules. Applicants may not appeal against a properly taken vote that they have lost.

STAGE 1 – THE CANDIDATES’ LIST Anyone wishing to be considered for selection may not have a vote at this stage to avoid any accusations of cronyism.

It is the responsibility of the Executive Council of the Association (or Federation where relevant) to ensure that an approved list of potential candidates is available for selection.

The Executive Council is advised to delegate its authority for the approval of candidates to another body – An Approvals Committee – so it may fairly act as an appeal body.

i. The Approvals Committee set up as above should include the Conservative Group Leader on the Council and at least one other serving councillor in addition to the Association Chairman and Association Deputy Chairman Political of the relevant Associations. If any of these people are applying for approval themselves they may only advise on other people and not vote. If a new council is being formed, there will be no leader or councillors.

ii. The Approvals Committee should set up a procedure to deal with the emergency approval of potential candidates in cases where there is too little time before the close of nominations for the normal procedure to be used. (This should only be necessary where a previously selected candidate drops out at the last minute or where a candidate has just been found for a difficult seat or an unexpected by-election).

iii. It is recommended where an Association shares a council, that it sets up a joint committee with the sharing Associations to create a common list for the whole council area. (This would enable a candidate to be approved for all seats on a council without having to attend a multitude of approval meetings. It would also create a common standard for the council).

STAGE 2 – BRANCH COMMITTEE VETTING Anyone wishing to be considered for selection may not have a vote at this stage to avoid any accusations of cronyism.

If the Association Executive Council so decides (for example because there is no branch covering a ward), they may appoint a committee (which may consist of the whole Executive) to deal with this stage in lieu of the branch. If the membership of a branch is less than two percent of the vote obtained at the most recent relevant election, or if there is no relevant election one percent of the current electorate, or if the membership of the branch is below 20, the Executive Council must

2 appoint a committee for this stage and all references to branch committee shall apply to that committee.

When a branch wishes to select a prospective council candidate, it should ask the Executive Council (or relevant committee) to inform those on the approved list that it is starting the selection process.

The branch committee should consider those who have applied and submit suitable candidates to the membership to take the final decision.

If there is more than one branch involved they must set up a joint committee for selection. (Anyone wishing to be considered should not serve on this committee). The Association Executive Council must approve the make-up of such a committee.

i. Sitting councillors for the actual ward or division of the council being selected who are on the approved list have an automatic right to be considered by the branch committee.

ii. It is acceptable for the branch committee to submit to the membership for approval only the existing sitting councillors for the actual ward or division of the council being selected.

iii. Unless ii above applies or there are too few applicants, the branch committee must submit at least one more name to the membership than there are vacancies.

STAGE 3 – MEMBERS’ CHOICE It is important that the members of the Association feel they have taken part in the selection of their prospective candidate. In most cases, this will involve inviting the members to a general meeting of the branch to choose between two candidates. However, if the membership of a branch is less than two percent of the vote obtained at the most recent relevant election, or if there is no relevant election one percent of the current electorate, or if the membership of the branch is below 20, the Executive Council shall decide on the candidate.

i. Only those members who qualify to vote under the Rules of the Conservative Party may take part in any selection.

ii. Only those members who live within the ward/division for which the candidate is being selected may take part.

iii. At the General Meeting the potential candidates should be invited to address the meeting and answer questions individually.

iv. Where the area covers more than one branch, one meeting should be held of all qualifying members within the area concerned.

v. Potential candidates have the same voting rights at this meeting as any other member.

3 vi. If the Executive Council is deciding on the candidate, they may be guided by a general meeting of members, but it is the Executive Council that shall take the final decision.

Alan Mabbutt

Head of Local Government, on behalf of the Committee on Candidates under the authority of the Party Board.

1st November 2011.