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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MP Cormack fails to get readopted | MP Cormack fails to get readopted |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Long-serving Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack has failed to be readopted as a parliamentary candidate for the next general election. | Long-serving Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack has failed to be readopted as a parliamentary candidate for the next general election. |
| The 67-year-old failed to be readopted by his constituency party in South Staffordshire at a meeting on Monday. | The 67-year-old failed to be readopted by his constituency party in South Staffordshire at a meeting on Monday. |
| Sir Patrick, an MP since 1970, achieved the biggest swing to the Conservatives - 9.4% - at the last election. | Sir Patrick, an MP since 1970, achieved the biggest swing to the Conservatives - 9.4% - at the last election. |
| He said he felt "hurt" but the decision had been a "minor setback" and he had "every intention" of standing again. | |
| 'Extremely close' | 'Extremely close' |
| He has the opportunity of seeking the endorsement of the entire constituency membership, of some 500 people. | He has the opportunity of seeking the endorsement of the entire constituency membership, of some 500 people. |
| Sir Patrick, chairman of the Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee, has a large personal following in South Staffordshire. | Sir Patrick, chairman of the Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee, has a large personal following in South Staffordshire. |
| Some local Tories are thought to believe he could beat an official Conservative candidate if he ran as an independent. | Some local Tories are thought to believe he could beat an official Conservative candidate if he ran as an independent. |
| The only critical comment made was my failure to put the word 'Conservative' sufficiently prominently on my election literature Sir Patrick Cormack, MP | The only critical comment made was my failure to put the word 'Conservative' sufficiently prominently on my election literature Sir Patrick Cormack, MP |
| Sir Patrick said the constituency association vote had been "extremely close", with 14 of the 29 or 30 people at the meeting offering their "unswerving support". | Sir Patrick said the constituency association vote had been "extremely close", with 14 of the 29 or 30 people at the meeting offering their "unswerving support". |
| He told the BBC that some of the newer members of the local party had an "agenda" but "I'm not sure exactly what it is". | He told the BBC that some of the newer members of the local party had an "agenda" but "I'm not sure exactly what it is". |
| Sir Patrick added that he did not think the decision was to do with his age, saying: "You can be locked up for ageism now, can't you?" | Sir Patrick added that he did not think the decision was to do with his age, saying: "You can be locked up for ageism now, can't you?" |
| If party leader David Cameron became prime minister he would "need one or two people who have been around a bit to help him". | If party leader David Cameron became prime minister he would "need one or two people who have been around a bit to help him". |
| 'Minor setback' | 'Minor setback' |
| Sir Patrick said: "I feel rather hurt. But you've got to have a thick skin in politics for your supporters' sake." | |
| He said would not be "rushing into" any decision on his course of action if he was not reselected. | He said would not be "rushing into" any decision on his course of action if he was not reselected. |
| Sir Patrick also said: "As far as I am concerned, I am looking upon this as a very minor setback. | Sir Patrick also said: "As far as I am concerned, I am looking upon this as a very minor setback. |
| "I have every intention of giving the electors of South Staffordshire the chance to pass their verdict on my services at the next election." | "I have every intention of giving the electors of South Staffordshire the chance to pass their verdict on my services at the next election." |
| Of the meeting, he said: "The only critical comment made was my failure to put the word 'Conservative' sufficiently prominently on my election literature. | Of the meeting, he said: "The only critical comment made was my failure to put the word 'Conservative' sufficiently prominently on my election literature. |
| "As I had the largest swing to the Conservatives in the country at the last election, I did not take that particularly seriously." | "As I had the largest swing to the Conservatives in the country at the last election, I did not take that particularly seriously." |
| Sir Patrick, whose parliamentary majority in 2005 was 8,847, is a former party spokesman on constitutional affairs and a former shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons. | Sir Patrick, whose parliamentary majority in 2005 was 8,847, is a former party spokesman on constitutional affairs and a former shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons. |
| He resigned the latter post in 2000 to contest the Commons Speakership election, which he lost to Labour's Michael Martin. | He resigned the latter post in 2000 to contest the Commons Speakership election, which he lost to Labour's Michael Martin. |
| Before entering Parliament, Sir Patrick was a teacher. | Before entering Parliament, Sir Patrick was a teacher. |
| He is a Freeman of the City of London, and was knighted in 1995. In the same year he was elected to the General Synod of the Church of England. | He is a Freeman of the City of London, and was knighted in 1995. In the same year he was elected to the General Synod of the Church of England. |
| Sir Patrick became MP for Cannock in the general election of 1970. Following boundary redistribution he was elected Member for South West Staffordshire - later renamed South Staffordshire - in 1974. | Sir Patrick became MP for Cannock in the general election of 1970. Following boundary redistribution he was elected Member for South West Staffordshire - later renamed South Staffordshire - in 1974. |