Primary colours
Sir: As a former chairman of a Conservative association, I read with interest your suggestion that the open primary held by the Tories in Totnes was a success (Leading article, 8 August).
The association I chaired was constantly under pressure to increase membership. When we attempted to do so, prospective members quite reasonably asked what they would receive for their £25 per annum. In all honesty, the answer was not very much. The trump card was, however, that members have a chance to have a direct say — a vote — in the selection of local and parliamentary candidates and also to vote for a leader of the party. It seems that now even this small benefit is under threat.
You hail the selection of Sarah Wollaston, ‘a doctor with little political experience’, who in Totnes defeated candidates with a long history of involvement with the Conservative party. Well, congratulations to Dr Wollaston.
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