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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories aim for northern England | Tories aim for northern England |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives have formed a campaign group to get in touch with voters in northern England. | |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague will be chairman of the Northern Board and principal spokesman for the party in the area. | |
| Party leader David Cameron said the group was established to tackle "our underperformance" in the North. | Party leader David Cameron said the group was established to tackle "our underperformance" in the North. |
| "We can never aspire to office unless we represent communities in every part of Britain," he said. | "We can never aspire to office unless we represent communities in every part of Britain," he said. |
| The party said it has nine MPs, six MEPs, 1,362 councillors and the control of 18 councils in the north of England. | The party said it has nine MPs, six MEPs, 1,362 councillors and the control of 18 councils in the north of England. |
| We must do so on the ground in communities across the North David CameronConservative leader | We must do so on the ground in communities across the North David CameronConservative leader |
| Mr Cameron said it was not possible to turn around the Tories' low success in the North overnight. | Mr Cameron said it was not possible to turn around the Tories' low success in the North overnight. |
| "We cannot do so from London. Instead, we must do so on the ground in communities across the North." | "We cannot do so from London. Instead, we must do so on the ground in communities across the North." |
| Mr Hague said the Northern Board would "lead the revival of the Conservative Party in the North." | Mr Hague said the Northern Board would "lead the revival of the Conservative Party in the North." |
| 'Flat-lining' | 'Flat-lining' |
| Activists in the North-West, North-East and Yorkshire and the Humber will get "greater autonomy" in organising and campaigning. | Activists in the North-West, North-East and Yorkshire and the Humber will get "greater autonomy" in organising and campaigning. |
| "Each region will have real responsibility for building campaigns, membership and driving fundraising," Mr Hague said. | "Each region will have real responsibility for building campaigns, membership and driving fundraising," Mr Hague said. |
| Francis Maude, Conservative Party chairman, described the support for Tories in the North as "flat-lining for too long." | Francis Maude, Conservative Party chairman, described the support for Tories in the North as "flat-lining for too long." |
| "The creation of campaign centres and the appointment of shadow ministers for the major northern cities were steps in the right direction to address this," he said. | "The creation of campaign centres and the appointment of shadow ministers for the major northern cities were steps in the right direction to address this," he said. |
| As part of its role, the Northern Board will propose new ways of promoting the party regionally and locally, and support selected parliamentary candidates. | As part of its role, the Northern Board will propose new ways of promoting the party regionally and locally, and support selected parliamentary candidates. |