Calling all wannabe Tory MPs: how do you fancy Staines? |

Thursday 15th October 2009 | 17:14

Calling all wannabe Tory MPs: how do you fancy Staines?

Just 5% of the PoliticsHome insider panel think David Wilshire will be standing as a Tory next year

It may be Staines, made famous by Ali G, but it has a handsome 10,000 Tory majority, it is just outside London and three quarters of political insiders think the seat will be up for grabs by the time of the next election. MPs, journalists and observers across the political spectrum believe that David Wilshire has little hope of standing as a Conservative candidate in next year's General Election.

The MP for Spelthorne has referred himself to John Lyons, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, after allegations he transferred £100,000 of his expenses to his own company. This afternoon he had a meeting with the Tory chief whip, and given his history in the party (he authored the infamous Section 28 amendment) Mr Cameron is not expected to come rushing to his defence.

Three-quarters of the panel predicted he will not stand as a Conservative, and perhaps even more ominously for Wilshire, just 5% believe he will. This feeling was uniform across the ideological divide.

The Phi100 panel interviews MPs, peers, political journalists, think tank leaders and strategists about the key issues of the day, providing a unique insight into collective Westminster opinion.

A non-aligned political journalist was frank in his assessment. “Mr Cameron has no need of him. He is disposable.”

One Labour Parliamentarian suggested he might stand ‘as an independent’, whilst a think tank leader sprang to his defence: "I'm not sure he's actually done anything wrong. He employs people, doing it through a company rather than personally isn't a crime. I've done the same. It makes sense for all sorts of financial, tax and legal reasons.” Nonetheless, the panellist predicted he would lose the Tory whip.

Leave a comment...

Diversity

19:30 |
15 Oct 2009
Recommended
5

Staines? Is it now Cameron policy that candidates have to fancy Guido? Has he agreed that with Guido?

David Llewelyn Davies

20:13 |
15 Oct 2009
0

I am a Tory, and I am ashamed by the allegations.

A J Scott

20:37 |
15 Oct 2009
Recommended
1

Wilshire should seek a Labour constituency endorsement: after all, they will understand exactly where he's coming from.

Miguel

21:10 |
15 Oct 2009
Recommended
1

Good riddance to this repugnant trougher!

Surrey ABC

21:16 |
15 Oct 2009
0

Under 2 & half hours and he is gone!

Does this mean he will still be up before Bercow and the Fees Office now?

Andrew K

01:11 |
16 Oct 2009
Recommended
1

Paul Staines for Staines?

Christopher Squire

00:17 |
17 Oct 2009
0

Staines?? Shurely that is the name of a prominent right-wing blogger whose nom de plume escapes me? Only he can take up mantle which the wonderful Mr W is so cruelly forced to discard to please the mob.

Jethro

19:52 |
17 Oct 2009
0

I'll throw my hat into the ring: I'm old enough to know better, ugly enough to deter even Ian Mikardo, have a house just a few miles away in Reading, a small Pension, was educated at public expense, am slow-witted enough to be a Tory, independent-minded enough never to be taken-for-granted, beholden to none, deferential to all, devoted to tradition, eager for improvement (not 'change', for Heavens' sake!). I have been employed, self-employed, and unemployed - and am not quite sure into which of those categories I would fall on being elected as Member for this Constituency.

george

17:34 |
18 Oct 2009
0

Why are the headings in the poll above labelled "Left" "Right" and "Lib Dem." What happened to NuLabour and ModernConservatives? I love how the LibDems, by implication, are neighter left or right. They are just sensible people who happen to be sectionable.

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