Grass root Tories unhappy over election rules

Party activists up in arms over election rules

Conservative MEP Graham Mather claimed that some local activists were up in arms over yesterday's ruling, and that the executive committee of at least one association was believed to be on the verge of resignation over the issue.

Options reviewed after election

There is evidence that this will not be enough for the grass roots, who have said they'll press on with their own, separate, poll of constituency chairmen and present the results on the day of the first ballot of the official leadership election.

But Mr Mather said, "There is a serious risk the party will have two leaders, one chosen by the parliamentary party, the other chosen by ourselves, and the grass roots will be in a state of unconcealed insurrection against the parliamentary party for a 12-month period."

Experts in putting things off

"They are acting like dinosaurs, running a party on a nineteenth century basis. We are now in the twentieth century and will shortly be in the twenty first century. They have been offering us reviews. One after the 1995 leadership election, and there was talk last summer about a change in the rules. They are experts in the art of putting things off."

Many of the six leadership contenders could face a backlash from local activists as they take their campaigns out into the country over the next two and a half weeks.

The first ballot is on June 10, with a second ballot seven days later, and a third two days after that, if it's needed.