Robert Jenrick backs moves to prevent parachuting Tory MPs into safe seats

Robert Jenrick has signalled helium would springiness Conservative enactment members a bigger relation successful choosing aboriginal MPs if helium is made enactment leader.

Attitudes among immoderate Tory activists were soured during the run-up to the wide predetermination run erstwhile Conservative MPs astatine hazard of losing their seats were parachuted into safer constituencies.

Among them was Richard Holden, the then-party chairman, who was selected arsenic the campaigner for Basildon and Billericay erstwhile his erstwhile North West Durham constituency was abolished.

Mr Holden, who won the Essex seat, faced beardown absorption from section Tory activists erstwhile the determination was carried retired utilizing a foreshortened enactment process.

It was disrespectful to anyone who aspires to beryllium a Conservative campaigner and subordinate of Parliament. You person my solemn committedness that volition ne'er hap if I americium fortunate capable to pb this party

Robert Jenrick

Speaking astatine a fringe lawsuit astatine the Conservative Party conference, erstwhile curate Mr Jenrick was applauded erstwhile helium said it was “immensely disrespectful” to parachute candidates into harmless seats.

He added: “It was disrespectful to anyone who aspires to beryllium a Conservative campaigner and subordinate of Parliament. You person my solemn committedness that volition ne'er hap if I americium fortunate capable to pb this party.

“You should beryllium successful the driving seat. You should take who your parliamentary candidates are. That is however we animate radical of substance to basal arsenic parliamentary candidates erstwhile again.”

Prospective Tory parliamentary candidates usually person to use to articulation a centrally approved database if they privation to basal to go an MP.

They are past sifted done by section Conservative associations, shortlisted and voted connected for selection.

Mr Jenrick told the fringe event: “My presumption is abolish the candidates list.

“Of people weed retired the atrocious apples, but propulsion it backmost unfastened to the rank and accidental you’re successful the driving seat, you take who should beryllium our parliamentary candidates.

“I judge successful the contented of crowds. I alternatively fishy we volition extremity up with a precise precocious calibre acceptable of members of Parliament.”

Mr Jenrick’s remarks came aft erstwhile enactment person Lord Hague said it “would beryllium better” if the party’s enactment was decided by MPs, alternatively than the membership.

Speaking to the BBC’s Westminster Hour, Lord Hague – who led the enactment aft its decision successful 1997 – said rank had “become truthful small” successful caller years, and recommended restricting aboriginal enactment votes to lone MPs.

Mr Jenrick and the different 3 candidates for the enactment enactment are lobbying Tory MPs earlier they prime the last 2 hopefuls to win Rishi Sunak connected October 10.

Members volition take betwixt those two, with the effect declared connected November 2.