The 'A'List might be dead but her children are alive and well!

I was very encouraged yesterday that someone has ‘publicly’ stood with Mark Pritchard MP and supported his stance – not because Mark disobeyed the whips and sensationally disagreed in chambers with his leader, the Prime Minster – but because he cared and was passionate and unafraid to speak his mind.

Isn’t that what parliament is all about – speaking for and on behalf of the people, the electorate! I was particularly pleased with the article because some Tory MPs during Pritchard’s speech have behaved appallingly – in an effort to put him of his stride or shut him up – they were arrogant and acted like school yard bullies it was dishonorable and painful to watch!

However, I would have been elated if the author of that very stanch piece has put their name to it. Especially as the person they are defending was very brave and defiant in his actions. Nevertheless their piece has offered a different take to Tim Montgomerie’s piece written on the same day for a different publication.

Both write ups came almost five years after the birth of the A’List – the brain child of David Cameron, Shireen Ritchie now Baroness Brompton, Theresa May, Bernard Jenkin and Anne Jenkin now Baroness Kennington plus others.

At the time many party members saw the A’List as a divisive socialist experiment that goes against and mocks everything Conservative. But its supporters insisted it was needed, and that it was an essential measure if Tory MPs are to reflect those they represent – i.e. more women and people of ethnic origin – and if they are to win the next election!

Out of the 306 Conservative MPs elected in May 2010, 148 are new intakes and of that 38 are A’ Listers – the rest are made up of candidates who were readopted after the 2005 election and the special influx rushed through after Cameron reopened the candidates’ list in May 2009.

That in it self might make some feel extra special. Especially as the whole process, from start to finish was centrally controlled by the leadership and CCHQ – association members and grassroots never like anything too centrally controlled and this was no different.

In my opinion, what’s done is done. Many of our current MPs (both new and old) are sitting on very small majorities – we are in a coalition government, and naturally there will be lots of comprises that need to be explained come the next election and although 2015 is four years away it’s not really that far away – beside people have a long memory for the negative.