Anyone who has any sense in South West Norfolk Conservative Association would have looked up Liz Truss on the Internet. They would very easily have found out she had an affair with Mark Field. For the association now to show they have no confidence in her, is nothing short of disgraceful.
Liz Truss has my backing. What she did or what she does in her private life has nothing to do with me or anyone else. She is a hugely talented woman and will be an asset to Parliament. As the stone age relics from Norfolk don't realise this, the party must intervene, although at the moment I wouldn't blame her if she resigned. How can she have any confidence in the people who selected her a few days ago when they don't seem to have any confidence in her?
2 comments:
Lack of homework is poor. Still, it's more sensitized at this time, pre-election.
I fully agree with Andrew Allison. Below is a copy of an email I have sent to the swncp.
Dear Sir
I have been listening with much interest to the discussions regarding the selection of Elizabeth Truss. I am at present a constituent of Henry Bellingham of whom I have been a staunch supporter for 20 years and it is with much regret that we are having to transfer to SW Norfolk at the next election.
My concern is at the hypocracy of the discussions now being muted in SW Norfolk and the selection of Miss Truss. From my understanding the affair between Miss Truss and Mark Field was widely reported at that time. As Mr Field remains an MP, albeit on the back benches, there seems to be a case for double standards here.
I do not endorse Miss Truss's behaviour in having an affair but I do not see how it is the business of anyone within the Conservative Party. She should be judged on her ability to perform her duties as a Conservative MP and not for those of her personal life. It would appear that Mr Field, who was the adulterer at the time, has been given the support of his electorate in order for him to remain an MP. Miss Truss should be given the same opportunity and consideration.
In a recent interview on Look East, a local party official voiced the arrogance of Central Office in not bringing the matter to their attention. I would beg to differ on this point. I think it is the forward thinking of Central Office who accept that the matter had already been widely reported and moved on. I cannot believe that no one within the selection panel did not bother to investigate Miss Truss's past and raise their concerns earlier. It would seem rather mischievious to be airing the matter at this late stage. Much as in an ideal world such morals are to be applauded, in the real world one has to accept that only the few are without sin.
It is a blinkered view of political parties to have one law for Mr Field and another for Miss Truss. I wonder how many of those acting as Judge and Jury over her at the meeting scheduled for tonight are without fault. Those who also have 'secrets' but because they are not prepared to stand for office, will never experience the treatment being levelled at Miss Truss. It is this hypocracy that alienates people from joining the Parliamentary parties, myself included.
The local association obviously considered Miss Truss's abilities and capabilities perfectly acceptable when they approved her selection intially. I can fully understand why Miss Truss would not have included her affair on her CV. The fact that it was widely reported at the time means she could have reasonably expected those involved in her selection to be aware of it and for it not to be a matter for exposure in the press in future. She could also be reasonably expected to believe that if the Conservative Party Central Office approved of her selection in the full knowledge of the incident, then she could also expect the local association to back her selection.
I believe there is only one agenda here and that is to seek to use Miss Truss as a stick to beat the Conservative Central Office for daring to 'foist' a candidate on them. As a result the local association is embarassing the Party as a whole, damaging Mr Camerons authority in particular and making the local membership appear small minded and insular. The only beneficiaries from this petty squabble will be the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrat Party, not neccessarily in East Anglia but across the UK as a whole.
I would suggest that those within the Conservative Party who have the interests of Britain at heart, judge Miss Truss on her abilities to take us forward and not on her already widely reported past. I wish her every success and can only apologise to her for her vilification whilst trying to serve the people of S W Norfolk.
Susan J Lancaster
West Walton, Cambs.
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