Conservatives in selection row

Mark Denten Political Correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

The Conservative Party has been accused by some of its own members of bias against local candidates.

Penrith and Border Conservatives selected a General Election candidate last month, but no local candidates made the shortlist.

Some long-serving party members have branded the selection system "undemocratic".

Selection time

Penrith And The Border is one of the Conservatives safest seats. Once held by Willie Whitelaw, the current MP David Maclean has a majority of nearly 12,000.

But Mr Maclean is stepping down at the General Election and the contest to replace him has opened up a rift within the local tory party.

David Maclean is stepping down at the General Election

Last month the Conservatives held what they called an "open primary" to decide on their candidate.

Even non-Conservatives could vote in the event at Penrith auction mart. They could choose from six candidates - but none of them were local.

"No debate"

Rory Stewart, a one time deputy Governor of Basra Province in Iraq and Harvard Professor emerged the winner.

But some local party members are furious.

Rory Stewart will stand for the Conservatives

John Stanyer has been a Conservative for thirty years.

"I'm unhappy. There's been no debate within the party over who should be on the shortlist. We were not asked as party members what sort of candidate we wanted. We need someone with a local background".

Mr Stewart has so far not been drawn into the row over his selection, but one of his would - be rivals has also attacked the selection system.

There's been no debate within the party over who should be on the shortlist John Stanyer,Conservative Party member Penrith and The Border

Gary Strong is a Conservative County Councillor in Cumbria - he wanted to stand as a local candidate but was ruled out by party officials.

"Central Office were impressed by my CV but I was then told I hadn't passed a parliamentary assessment board. The people at the selection meeting should at least have been given the choice of two local candidates. There's a lot of disquiet about this locally.

Fair system

But the Conservative Party has defended the selection procedure. A spokesperson for the regional party in the North West says: "This was an open, clear and transparent selection process and the best candidate was selected."

The full item on this subject can be seen in the latest edition of the Politics Show for North East & Cumbria this Sunday at Midday on BBC1 and shortly afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

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