A number of Isle of Wight Conservatives have triggered an internal process to have Andrew Turner de-selected as the Conservative candidate for the Isle of Wight’s at the next election, OnTheWight has learned.
Now officially started, it brings about a series of events that will lead to the members of the Island Conservative Association being asked to either back or reject the Island’s current MP, who has represented the Island since 2001.
Wheels already in motion
OnTheWight understands that the Chair of the Isle of Wight Conservatives, Alan Wells, has written to Andrew Turner asking him to ‘state his intention’ if he plans to stand for election as the Island’s candidate in the May 2015 elections.
Andrew’s response will be taken to the IW Cons Executive Committee on 18th October. They will either accept his response or put it to the membership of the Island’s Tories to vote on.
Only if Turner is rejected would the process of selecting the alternative Conservative candidate start, with a non-public National pool accredited candidates being informed on the opportunity.
Who’s behind it?
The two names that party-insiders have told OnTheWight about are ex-council leader David Pugh and another. OnTheWight has contacted David Pugh to ask if what we have been told is correct, but as yet he hasn’t responded.
It’s widely-known that there are considerable differences between the sitting MP and David Pugh, matters not helped by the ‘PughTube’ incident on Valentine’s Day in 2010.
OnTheWight has been told that it’s not just this that has led to the recent action, but Andrew Turner’s vocal opposition at Conservative head office-level to the changes to the Isle of Wight school system that David Pugh spearheaded, to which it’s been said that David was furious about.
“Determined to bury Turner”
Such offence was taken at this that it’s been described to OnTheWight as strongly as, those involved are, “Determined to bury Turner”.
Why now?
With the 2015 National elections getting ever more close – witness the increased political posturing of all parties at their recent round of conferences – it’s felt that time is running out and if it’s not done now, it’ll be too late.
We’ve tried to get in touch with Andrew Turner’s office and are awaiting a response. We’ve also contacted David Pugh for a response.
Naturally, we’ll update this article once we hear back from them.
Image: © IslandMP
