Dearest Dame,
The Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham Conservative Association has a small problem.
At the AGM a couple of weeks ago the new Committee was supposed to be elected (the normal shoo-in of uncontested positions) but outgoing Chairman Andrew Foster screwed up.
It had been “agreed” in a smoke-filled room that fellow Committee Member for Campaigning, Ross Allan, would become the new Chairman.
But then the well-known and popular Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke (Abingdon Ward) put a spoke in the wheel by putting herself up for the Chairmanship, with a Proposer and Seconder-just as it should be.
The boa feathers started to fly and Chairman Andrew Foster fluffed it.
Accusations of “improper process” flew back and forth and Foster suspended the election and offered to spend a couple of months mediating between the two furious contestants.
And he roped in the ex-MP, the avuncular Lord Mathew Carrington as an additional mediator.
What a farce.
Yours animatedly
A member
Brian Rix and the Whitehall Theater. Re invented.
ReplyDeleteCllr Mills would not have tolerated this nonsense when she was Chairman of the Association
DeleteMy information is that Foster had a nervous start a few years ago as Chairman of the Association but grew into the job and became an effective and popular figurehead. The question is what does he plan to do next? He is obviously passionate about politics and the Conservative Party and his next ambition will determine how he behaves to sort out the current mess. Does he need to continue to try and please all of the people all of the time or will he man up and crack some eggshells? And upset some people in the process. Maybe he needs to put duty before ambition.
ReplyDeleteRoss Allen is desperately ambitious and wants to be a Conservative MP. The Chairmanship could be a stepping stone. Cllr Addenbrooke is an experienced and respected local Councillor and the Chairmanship could ease her path to become the next Leader in Hornton Street. What is best for the Association?
ReplyDeleteShallow comment from Kensington Tory. The next Chairman needs to be a person who can mentor, encourage develop and lead Association staff, volunteers and fellow committee members. Ross has been an effective and tireless campaign manager and has introduced and used a WHATSAPP campaign tool in our recent local and national elections. This has also been a personal networking tool for him to get himself known to activists, MPs Fiona and Greg,the wider Association membership and the Tory councillors
DeleteRoss Allen is an aggressive bully and would cause huge disruption in the Association. He deserves credit for his campaigning activities but is not ready for a Chairmanship. The MPs and Councillors who feel indebted should think very carefully about the qualities required by a good Chairman
ReplyDeleteAllan needs more time to mature
ReplyDeleteRoss Allan still has a big contribution to make on the campaign front. Kensington is the most marginal seat in the country and needs a big effort. And the proposed boundary changes are a further threat and need to be pushed back - a new challenge for the energy and talents of Mr Allan. There is fame for him here if he wants it to help his Westminster ambitions. Deputy Chairman might be a good position for him to contemplate
DeleteOh no. Foster and Carrington. Two of the nicest guys you could meet but incapable of taking decisions. Can't bear to upset anyone. Including the cat.
ReplyDeleteA fudge will emerge like a rotating Chairmanship between the two contenders.
Wait for the pathetic outcome
Neither candidate wants to be tarnished by the brush of an "irregular election". Both of them need to rise above personal ambition and insist on an election according to the rules.
DeleteIf the position is awarded after "mediation by Foster and Carrington", the winner will never be able to command the full respect of the membership.
It is astounding that Lord Carrington has allowed his name to be dragged into this thoroughly irregular and accident prone process. A lose:lose situation for him. And from a mess that he had no part in creating.
This mess needs to be resolved by the Area or London Region party officer team, it cannot be left with the Association since, one way or the other, it appears that somebody has broken the rules.Association members need to write and complain to the Area and Region Chairmen asking them to take charge of the process.
ReplyDeleteHow did this cock up happen?
DeleteFoster has a soft spot or two for Allan. He forgot (not intentionally) that there are election rules and regulations in the Conservative Association. And turned a sort of Nelson's blind eye to the idea that the election might be contested. Cllr Addenbrooke was having none of it. She is rightly insisting that things need to be done according to the book.
DeleteNow Foster is digging one of the biggest holes in modern RBKC history. Someone needs to take the Chairman's shovel away and lock it up.
Young men have been confusing older men since the start of time
DeleteAsk Michael Gove about this. Much more to his "grown apart" divorce than has so far been published.
DeleteCall an UBER and return Mathew to the Red benches with a sleeping pill
ReplyDeleteAmusing that the post before this one has a picture of a crapping dog........
ReplyDeleteThe GLA election is over and Ross did sterling work to support Shaun Bailey and Tony Devenish. He got the vote out.
ReplyDeleteNow Ross is in overdrive again on Whatsapp seeking help from RBKC and Fulham activists to support the Campden by election. Ross of course is campaigning on his own behalf to increase/maintain his profile and try to become Chairman of the Association. Lets be clear about this.
So it's not just the Kensington Labour party that has petty power struggles.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the Chelsea Conservative Association do something about getting rid of Greg Hands, Chelsea's most ineffectual MP.