Dear Member,
Conservative Party Leadership Election
The contest for the next leader of the Conservative Party and our new Prime Minister has probably gone on for far too long. I’m sure that this protracted process will be reviewed by the Party’s 1922 Committee in the light of the unnecessary exposure of what should perhaps have been private debates for an internal Tory contest instead of the very public coverage of clashing opinions from rival camps. However, we have played our part in helping the candidates and their supporters air their views on the wide range of challenging issues that will face a new administration.
Mercifully, the leadership contest is now nearing its belated conclusion with less than a week to go before all the speculation comes to an end and some serious work begins. As a reminder, the date by which members should return their ballot papers is 5pm on Friday 2nd September, with the winner scheduled to be announced on Monday 5th September. That winner will then be become the Leader of the Conservative Party and invited by HM The Queen to be our next Prime Minister.
In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures showing our participation in recent hustings:
Paul Dean, back left, behind Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh, front left, at a hustings for The Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, front centre, on 2nd August
Your Chairman with speakers Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, and Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane, at a hustings to support Rishi Sunak’s leadership bid on 5th August
Butleigh & Baltonsborough By-Election
6th October 2022
Having paid our final respects to Councillor Nigel Woollcombe-Adams at a moving and well-attended service of thanksgiving for his life at Lydford Church on 15th August, I’m truly delighted to report that Ken Maddock has agreed to stand as the Conservative candidate in the resultant forthcoming by-election for the Butleigh & Baltonsborough seat on Mendip District Council which has now been called for Thursday 6th October – that’s just five weeks away.
Ken has a wealth of experience in local government having been a past Leader of both Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council. It will be a tough challenge in the present political climate, but in Ken we have the strongest possible candidate who I know will campaign tirelessly, with your help, to retain this seat.
Julian Stapleton, Ken Maddock, Paul Dean and John Moody launching Ken’s by-election campaign to retain the Butleigh & Baltonsborough seat on Mendip District Council
In fact, our campaign has already started by distributing leaflets about ‘Nigel’s Lasting Legacy’, highlighting how proud he was to serve his local community as a councillor, especially how he steered planning for over 500 affordable new homes in the area – this should keep the profile of the Conservative brand riding high in people’s minds.
Amy Green, our Constituency Campaign Organiser, is scheduling a programme of campaign sessions, the dates of which are being emailed regularly to members. If you can spare some time to help deliver Ken Maddock’s leaflets, that would be much appreciated. Although Somerset’s District Councils will be subsumed into the new Unitary Council on 1st April 2023, this by-election will be a real test of how we can turn the tide on the temporarily resurgent Lib Dems in the South West.
Somerset Council Conservative Group
Watching how the Lib Dems are running the new Unitary Authority is our own Conservative Group on Somerset Council, ably led by David Fothergill who had recently submitted well-considered and fully costed proposals to immediately alleviate the cost-of-living crisis for Somerset residents. These proposals were rejected in Full Council by the ruling Lib Dem administration who called upon the Monitoring Officer to rule them ‘out of process’.
The Lib Dems argued that these decisions could only be made at a much smaller Executive meeting. As a result, the motion fell and the immediate opportunity to help Somerset residents was lost. Instead, the Lib Dem administration would write a letter to the national Government.
Commenting on this decision, Conservative Group Leader David Fothergill said “This was such a wonderful opportunity to do something which could help residents today. Instead, the Lib Dems have chosen to just write a letter and lobby. It's deeply frustrating, as the plans were well thought through, well costed and would have had an immediate beneficial impact. We will not give up trying to help those in Somerset who most need our immediate help. We were elected to support residents, not to focus our efforts on writing letters’.
Whilst those not involved in local government may not understand all the internal terminology, it appears that this was clearly a lost opportunity to give much wanted help to the most needy. Nevertheless, the Conservative Group will keep up the pressure on the Council to apply greater consideration to its common sense initiatives and proposals.
David Warburton MP
I remember the shock I felt when watching a news strapline on my television on the evening of Friday 1st April, stating that David Warburton had had the Tory whip withdrawn pending an investigation into allegations about his conduct. He was reported at the time as denying any wrongdoing and telling a news reporter that he had “enormous amounts of evidence, but unfortunately the way things work means that doesn’t come out first.”
After an initial avalanche of enquiries, my inbox continues to receive a steady stream of requests for information about David – currently the constituency’s Independent MP. This is very understandable and I’ve tried to give those that have taken the trouble to write to me a full and honest answer. The simple fact is that the investigation into the allegations made about David in the Sunday Times on 3rd April, and submitted to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), continues at a frustratingly slow pace.
It is now five months since those allegations were first made and there is still no end in sight. I should therefore stress that the delay in reaching a conclusion is not his fault. Moreover, due to the ICGS confidentiality agreement that David was made to sign at the outset, he has been unable to make any statement to his constituents or to his colleagues in the House of Commons.
He has now had the whip removed longer than any other MP. To any reasonably-minded soul, this is an absolute disgrace. All I can say is that representations are now being made at the highest levels to highlight the intolerable length of time it is taking for David’s evidence to be considered in his response to as yet unsubstantiated claims, and to emphasise the seemingly atrocious incompetence of the ICGS process.
I will keep members updated as best I can.
The Association Chairmanship
I’m very pleased to report that Howard Bentley-Marchant, currently Deputy Chairman Political, has agreed to take over from me when I stand down as Chairman in mid-October. The formal arrangements will be conducted at a meeting of the Association’s Executive Council, now scheduled for Friday 14th October, and the appointment ratified at next year’s AGM, currently planned for Friday 10th March 2023.
Howard has a wealth of experience within the management of the Association, but would wish to be considered as an interim Chairman, steering us through the 2023 parliamentary boundary changes before the new Prime Minister calls the next General Election. It will therefore remain our aim to appoint a younger Chairman within a reasonable timescale, so that he or she could serve a full five-year term.
As I’ve said before, it’s a hugely fulfilling, rewarding and interesting role, and we fortunate to have a very competent team of Officers in place to help in the more specialised areas of finance, membership and local government. Moreover, the Somerset Conservative Group, based in Bridgwater, and the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in London provide support on more technical matters.
Fundraising Events
Association Dinner, Friday 25th November 2022
We are planning to have an Association Dinner at The Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster on Friday 25th November with a significant political figure as guest speaker. Full details will be sent to members and supporters next month. In the meantime, please make a note of this date in your diaries. It’s high time we raised our spirits again with another opportunity to raise much needed funds at an enjoyable social event.
Women’s Luncheon Club
The 2022/2023 winter season programme for the Yeovil & Somerton Conservative Women’s Luncheon Club has now been published, as shown below. The Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 12 noon for 12.30pm.
Membership is open to all women supporters of the Conservative Party. Guests are welcome if space is available but the same guest may come no more than twice in one season. Subscription is £12.00 per season.
All meetings are held at The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster. Bookings can be made by contacting Mrs Margaret Edwards, Hon Luncheon Secretary, on 01460 234222 or at [email protected]
Programme for 2022/23
Wednesday 28th September 2022 – Marcus Fysh, Political
Wednesday 2nd November 2022 – Alison Brown, Royal Housekeeper
Wednesday 23rd November 2022 – Jenny Chance, Flower Demonstration
Wednesday 25th January 2023 – Sue Greenwood and Maggie Hagg, Unwanted Jewellery- Breast Cancer Unit Appeal
Wednesday 22nd February 2023 – Tim Lewis and Sheila Furneaux, Our Harmonious Garden
Wednesday 22nd March 2023 – Jennifer Pennell, Riding for the Disabled
Wednesday 26th April 2023 – Alexa Hunt, Wraxhall Winery
Preceded by a short Annual General Meeting
200 Club Winner – August Draw
The winning number in the August 2022 draw of the Somerton & Frome 200 Club is No 68 and the winner is: Mr Ed Costelloe! Congratulations Ed! You will have already received your winner’s cheque for £100.
With all best wishes,
Julian Stapleton
Chairman
Somerton & Frome Conservative Association
01935 823915
07990 533185
