Sir Patrick Cormack MP not readopted in South Staffordshire

12.16.48pm GMT Tue 13th Feb 2007

Sir Patrick Cormack

The local party executive of South Staffordshire Conservative have failed to readopt their MP - Sir Patrick Cormack - for the next general election.

Sir Patrick has been an MP since 1970, achieved the biggest swing to the Conservatives - 9.4% - at the last election. Sir Patrick is incredibly popular in the constituency and if he stood as an Independent I have no doubt he would be elected - he has reportedly said he still had "every intention" of standing at the next election.

I cannot understand why the local party executive have done this, the next stage is for the wider membership to vote on Sir Patrick. The wider membership could (and almost certainly will) overturn the executive's decision.