Mike Jordan, the veteran ex-Tory councillor who quit the party last week in protest at Rishi’s leadership, has been selected as the Yorkshire Party candidate in the Selby & Ainsty by-election next month. Guido first reported he was considering making the jump, now he’s confirmed it…
Jordan said yesterday:
“Nothing is achievable without real local powers. Yorkshire needs a Regional Parliament, controlling a fair budget. Vote for it and make London listen. When the Yorkshire Party wins, Yorkshire wins.”
He previously stood for the Yorkshire Party the 2019 general election, winning 1,900 votes. The Tories, meanwhile, are hoping to defend their 25,000-vote majority with Michael Naughton, who has stood for two other seats in Yorkshire in previous years. Although this morning Michael Crick is reporting that the Tories may have to re-run the selection on the grounds it was conducted on the wrong boundaries, and so involved the wrong members…
Labour have selected 26-year old Keir Mather, who’s backed by the unions and previously worked for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The LibDems are still messing around trying to pick their candidate. Of the three looming by-elections, this seat should (in theory) be the ‘safest’ for the Tories…
In theory…
Mike Jordon, the Tory councillor for Camblesforth and Carlton – part of the Selby and Ainsty division – announced on Saturday night that he was resigning with immediate effect and he will continue to represent the constituents of Camblesforth and Carlton on North Yorkshire Council as an independent. This costs the Tories their majority on North Yorkshire Council. This is the second time Mike Jordan has resigned from the Conservative Party. Last time he joined the Yorkshire Party in protest at Government’s devolution stance. Guido asked the veteran councillor the obvious question: might he stand in the Selby and Ainsty by-election?
Mike says he is considering it, though insists his resignation on the same day local MP Nigel Adams resigned was a coincidence. In the 2019 general election he stood for the Yorkshire Party against the Tories, winning 1,900 votes. Nigel Adams had a 25,000 vote majority. In a by-election, probably with a low turn-out, might protest votes go to Mike Jordan and the Yorkshire Party? Greg Hands is taking no risks and is out campaigning in the constituency today…
