Tories self-destruct in St George West campaign

bristol | local government | news report Monday September 01, 2008 11:56 by Truth Seeker

As the by-election to replace deceased Labour councillor John Deasey swings into action, the Bristol Conservative Party shows how organised and sane it is by immediately self-destructing!

As the by-election to replace deceased Labour councillor John Deasey swings into action, the Bristol Conservative Party shows how organised and sane it is by immediately self-destructing!

In 2007 the Tories selected a maverick candidate, Angelo Agathangelou, who in a shock result came within 40 votes of winning St George West - a ward the Tories have not won in modern history. (The ward has been Labour except when held by the Lib Dems in the 80's and early 90's.)

Clearly not interested in building on that base, the Tories unceremoniously dumped Agathangelou in August to parachute in a pal of leader Cllr Richard Eddy, Colin Bretherton - a candidate who has lost no less than 9 times elsewhere in the city!

The Tory grapevine suggests that this deselection is down to ensuring votes for Cllr Eddy within his group, since without more friends he looks like loosing the group leadership after a dire year of no gains and repeated policy U-turns.

Freed from the gag of party membership, Agathangelou responded by labelling Cllr Eddy a "lunatic"and pointing out that the Tories have "dismal support" in St George West. More details of that at the Evening Pest site:
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-Tory-leader....html

Looks like being an interesting campaign!...