Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of “deals” between Essex Tories and BNP

The Conservatives have reiterated their abhorrence at the BNP, telling Left Foot Forward that they “do not do deals” with the “racist and reprehensible” BNP – yet have failed to clear up claims that local Tories in Essex have done a deal with the BNP – even installing a BNP councillor on Thurrock council’s most powerful committee.

Nick-Griffin The allegations are made on the “Tory stories” blog, and are backed up by local newspaper reports, “Echo News” reporting that the Conservatives were “clinging on to office with the vote of the BNP”.

The Tories were foced into relying on the support of the BNP after one of their councillors, Terry Hipsey, defected to Labour in protest at a Tory/BNP pact, alleging the party were:

“Not standing in wards to let the BNP win, Labour lose and so (the Tories) retaining control of the council.”

That was in March last year; more recently, Cllr Hipsey has claimed:

“Eric Pickles sent an email round when we first got into power warning us that any cooperation with BNP would result in expulsion from the Conservative Party. When I heard about the proposed pact I reported the issue to the South Basildon and East Thurrock Conservative Association Chairperson.

“She passed my concerns up to Conservative Central Office via email and followed it up with a phone call. I never heard anything back from Central Office.”

Following up on these claims, Left Foot Forward put the following questions to the Conservative party:

• What did Conservative Central Office do on learning of an alleged electoral pact between Thurrock Conservatives and the BNP? Was an investigation carried out and, if not, why?

• Were the problems in Thurrock Conservative Group brought to the attention of the Conservative Leader’s office and, if so, what action was taken?

• Why did Conservative Party Chairman, Eric Pickles MP, feel the need to issue an instruction to local Conservative Party associations not to co-operate with the BNP? and

• Has any Conservative Party member been expelled from the party for co-operating with the BNP since January 2008?

We received no specific responses to our questions, just a broad denunciation of the idea of cooperating with the BNP:

“We do not do deals with the BNP who are a racist and reprehensible party.”

Yesterday, Left Foot Forward reported another set of allegations concerning Essex Tories and racism. Leaflets were distributed in Romford showing David Cameron’s image and saying the floodgates had been opened to mass immigration.

The leaflets are believed to have been produced by Conservatice council candidate Osman Dervish, reportedly a member of Romford Tory MP Andrew Rosindell’s staff. Rosindell’s office, however, have distanced themselves from him and his claims, telling Left Foot Forward:

“Osman Dervish is not a paid member of Andrew Rosindell M.P.’s staff in either Parliament or the constituency.

“Osman Dervish is a Conservative Party member, local volunteer and a Council candidate in Romford. Furthers questions regarding this matter must now be referred to the relevant person, Osman Dervish.”

Mr Dervish, who apparently remains both a Tory member and candidate, was unavailable for comment.

http://twitter.com/houseoftwitslab/status/9875179158 HouseOfTwitsLab

RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/9875181567 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/southenddavid/status/9875239572 David Carrington

RT @HouseOfTwitsLab: RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/clairee_french/status/9875347640 claire french

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/karen4hwg/status/9875359113 Karen Jennings

RT @houseoftwits: RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/alasdairross/status/9875461152 Alasdair Ross

RT @HouseofTwitsLab: RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/jon2aylor/status/9875518582 Jonathan Taylor

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://raincoatoptimism.wordpress.com Carl

This does not surprise me, when Tories in Westminster are arguing about Disraeli or big C’s, Essex tories are discussing whether to remove or annihilate travellers. There is no incongruence here.
http://pluralprogressive.wordpress.com/ Luke

Reluctance to come clean on anything is a Tory trait. It wouldn’t surprise if they did do the dirty with the local BNP, anything to undermine Labour.

It’s the typical response of conservativism. If they’re on the same side of the spectrum then they wouldn’t rule out “understandings.”
http://twitter.com/majsaleh/status/9875718940 majsaleh

Tories in unscrupulous shocker RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
topsy_top20k

Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/jayneinnes/status/9875738189 Jayne Innes

RT @HouseofTwits: RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
Mr. Sensible

Not at all surprising; the Conservatives seem to be increasingly learching to the right these days.
http://twitter.com/thedancingflea/status/9876907323 Claire Spencer

The lack of straight answers to @leftfootfwd's questions is very concerning: http://bit.ly/aqyokf Thurrock Tories have much to answer for!
james A Brown

I believe the term is “hanging him out to dry”. Lovely people.Still,what goes around comes around, eh Osman?
http://twitter.com/kuleingozi/status/9877525192 Kule Ingozi

RT @thedancingflea: The lack of straight answers to @leftfootfwd's questions is very concerning: http://bit.ly/aqyokf Thurrock Tories ha …
http://twitter.com/foxy_says/status/9877525623 Mr Foxy

RT @thedancingflea: The lack of straight answers to @leftfootfwd's questions is very concerning: http://bit.ly/aqyokf Thurrock Tories ha …
http://twitter.com/jamescowley/status/9879979351 James Cowley

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/jamescowley/status/9880022456 James Cowley

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP http://bit.ly/aqyokf
http://twitter.com/davidwearing/status/9880647878 David Wearing

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/their_vodka/status/9880814981 Carol Roper

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP http://bit.ly/aqyokf
http://twitter.com/hayrr/status/9881185144 Hayrr X

RT @majsaleh: Tories in unscrupulous shocker RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/magsnews/status/9881779249 Mags W

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/chakrabortty/status/9885477607 Aditya Chakrabortty

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/terencestokes/status/9886859750 Terence Stokes

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP http://bit.ly/aqyokf
Billy

There is something very fishy about this story. The chairperson of the local Tory association was Kay Mangion, Councillor Hipseys wife. If the story is true why didn’t his wife expell those people responsible? The allegations were supposed to happen in 2008 so why did it take Mr Hipsey a whole year to cross the floor to Labour in disgust? More curious is Kay Hipsey has now joined the non racist friends of all Muslims – the UK Independence Party!
http://twitter.com/kirkleesunity/status/9887669573 Carl Morphett

"Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP | Left Foot Forward" ( http://bit.ly/bKjxgQ )
http://twitter.com/yelobeli/status/9888458064 Graham Ward

RT @leftfootfwd Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP: http://cli.gs/Me2Xb
http://twitter.com/sound_deals/status/9901317204 Adam Currington

Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex …: RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up all… http://bit.ly/dbN2Hi
http://www.torystories.com/2010/03/tory-mp-was-in-the-area-when-party-delivered-leaflet-so-grotesque-it-could-carry-a-bnp-logo/ Tory Stories » Blog Archive » Tory MP “was in the area” when party delivered leaflet “so grotesque it could carry a BNP logo”

[...] of local Conservatives’ discussion of a loose electoral pact with the BNP. Left Foot Forward contacted CCHQ who stonewalled over the allegations, giving ”no specific responses to our questions, [...]
http://twitter.com/jillmmundy/status/9920993900 Jill Mundy

RT @leftfootfwd: Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of "deals" between Essex Tories and BNP http://bit.ly/aqyokf
http://twitter.com/jillmmundy/status/9921225548 Jill Mundy

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/03/tory-hq-fails-to-clear-up-allegations-of-deals-between-essex-tories-and-bnp/
http://spicycauldron.com/2010/03/06/tory-candidates-get-extreme-right-wing-training/ The Spicy Cauldron » Tory candidates get extreme right-wing training

[...] Tory HQ fails to clear up allegations of “deals” between Essex Tories and BNP (leftfootforward.org) [...]
http://www.torystories.com/2010/03/when-did-rosindell-first-become-aware-of-anti-migrant-leaflet-new-evidence-emerges/ Tory Stories » Blog Archive » When did Rosindell first become aware of anti-migrant leaflet? – new evidence emerges

[...] Conservative council candidate Osman Dervish, who is believed to have produced the leaflet, it was told that “Osman Dervish is not a paid member of Andrew Rosindell M.P.’s staff in either Parliament [...]