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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron reopens Tory hopeful list | Cameron reopens Tory hopeful list |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron says he is re-opening the list of people approved to stand as Conservative Party candidates. | David Cameron says he is re-opening the list of people approved to stand as Conservative Party candidates. |
| He said he wanted more "open primaries" where anyone in a constituency takes part in the process of selecting their prospective Conservative MP. | He said he wanted more "open primaries" where anyone in a constituency takes part in the process of selecting their prospective Conservative MP. |
| The Tory leader told the BBC that "we have got to open up the talent that is available in Parliament". | The Tory leader told the BBC that "we have got to open up the talent that is available in Parliament". |
| His move came as the numbers of Tory MPs deciding to step down after expenses revelations reached five. | His move came as the numbers of Tory MPs deciding to step down after expenses revelations reached five. |
| Mr Cameron told the Andrew Marr Show: "What I'm going to do today, particularly as there are a number of MPs retiring from Parliament, is to reopen the Conservative candidate list to anybody who wants to apply. | |
| "They may not have had anything to do with the party before. But I'm saying, if you believe in public service, if you share our values, if you want to help us clean up politics, come and be a Conservative candidate. We want to open up the talent that is available." | "They may not have had anything to do with the party before. But I'm saying, if you believe in public service, if you share our values, if you want to help us clean up politics, come and be a Conservative candidate. We want to open up the talent that is available." |
| Team game | Team game |
| Examples he gave of the types of people they wanted to persuade to stand were successful head teachers and small business owners. | Examples he gave of the types of people they wanted to persuade to stand were successful head teachers and small business owners. |
| "Right now I expect many people are saying 'I'm not going anywhere near this nest of vipers'. | "Right now I expect many people are saying 'I'm not going anywhere near this nest of vipers'. |
| "We've got to work hard at it because our politics really matters and this is an opportunity to do that." | "We've got to work hard at it because our politics really matters and this is an opportunity to do that." |
| Asked if such candidates would have to follow party orders when elected Mr Cameron said he acknowledged people felt angry that the people they elect are then told how to vote in Parliament by party whips rather than voting according to their conscience. | Asked if such candidates would have to follow party orders when elected Mr Cameron said he acknowledged people felt angry that the people they elect are then told how to vote in Parliament by party whips rather than voting according to their conscience. |
| But he said: "Politics is a team game. We have still got to play as a team, you have got to sign up to the package." | But he said: "Politics is a team game. We have still got to play as a team, you have got to sign up to the package." |
| Mr Cameron said people wanted to have more power over their politicians and Parliament and he said the best way of doing that would be by Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling an election for July or September this year. | Mr Cameron said people wanted to have more power over their politicians and Parliament and he said the best way of doing that would be by Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling an election for July or September this year. |