Tory councillors attack their own party

It’s a difficult time for Tory members. Down to barely 123,000 at the last count , the annual conference passed off well, given the circumstances. But while Kemi Badenoch’s speech received a thumbs up from the commentariat, those running local groups continue to complain of problems. For a leaked recording has revealed what senior members and councillors really think of their party.

A fortnight ago, Tory group leaders, councillors and activists turned up to speak at a members-only Conservative party conference event titled ‘Local Government Selection Rules – consultation with Association Officers and members of the CCA’. The quotes offer some classics of the ‘disgruntled Tories’ genre. According to one member, the party is saddled with ‘too much centralism, democratic centralism – whic