Judicial review demanded on Tory way of electing leaders
After concerns were raised about the apparent ‘open door’ policy of the Conservative Party that seems to mean foreign powers could influence who becomes our prime minister if the choice goes to party members, an application for a judicial review has been launched.
As it happens, the current leadership contest may not go to an election by members, so for now the question may be academic.
But that doesn’t mean Tory rules don’t need to be tightened – and the best time is always now.
Here are the details:
As the Conservative party begins the process of electing another leader – and therefore, a de facto election of the Prime Minister – here’s a summation of our application for judicial review on the way it elects its leader. 🧵⬇️
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
We argued the public has a right to know for the following reasons:
1️⃣It is unrepresentative.
The membership accounts for around 0.2% of the population and includes non-UK citizens and under-age voters. There seems to be minimal checks on new members.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
2️⃣It is unsafe. We asked the Conservative Party to provide information about the demographics of the electorate, the efforts taken to validate party members and the process of securing the election from interference. They refused.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
In August, they replied to us arguing that the election is "a private matter for its members under our Constitution" and that "it does not carry out any public functions".
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
So, on 10 October 2022, Tortoise formally submitted an application for judicial review of the Conservative Party’s refusal to disclose information about the way it elects its leaders.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
This morning on @BBCr4today Tortoise co-founder and editor James Harding asked: "By 6pm on Monday evening we could find ourselves where we go to another membership contest. How do we know that's secure?"
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
.@CatNeilan this evening reporting that Conservative party members are 'already seeking to influence the outcome' of the leadership vote. More here: https://t.co/npGnAGXq2V
— Tortoise (@tortoise) October 21, 2022
“We registered Archie, our pet tortoise, as a member; a couple of foreign nationals; then Margaret Roberts, the maiden name of the late Lady Thatcher. The Conservative Party took the £25 membership fee. We got membership numbers and were invited to hustings.”
Damning.
Let’s hope the courts allow the judicial review.
We should look forward to learning the result.
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
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