“Duck house MP” Peter Viggers will be replaced using primary
This morning, Conservative Home reported that Gosport – home to Sir Peter Viggers and his ducks – would be the next constituency to run an “all-postal” primary to select the Conservative candidate for the next general election.
Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles has now confirmed the news, stating:
“I hope this will build on the success of Totnes. It’s vital that we continue to empower local people and allow them to have the final say. I hope this will encourage people in Gosport not previously interested in politics to get involved and get their voice heard.”
Sir Peter announced he would be stepping down at the next general election at the height of the expenses scandal in May. We’re delighted that his party has chosen to put the issue of his replacement to the people of Gosport.
1Phil Fish
wrote on 29 October 2009 at 20:37
As a Gosport resident what really disgusts everyone here is the fact that disgraced Conservative MP Peter Viggers is being allowed to cling onto his job and salary until the next election when he’ll receive a huge pay-off and a whopping pension for life.
Open primaries are a great idea but it’s still the party bosses who choose the short-listed candidates to put before us, the humble voters.
Still, I welcome your campaign and I love your videos!
2peter commerford
wrote on 31 October 2009 at 20:35
Will we have a vacant option as the Americans do to say “non of the above” to force the candidate selectors to think again?
3antony, blackpool
wrote on 1 November 2009 at 13:58
I have been reading this website with interest, but I am afraid I do not agree that ‘open primaries’ offer any answer. We need less Americanisation of our politics and culture, and not more of it. Also open primaries give the extremist groups the opportunity to mobilise their supporters and swamp the process, because regular ordinary people are so apathetic they wouldn’t be bothered.
4Iain
wrote on 6 November 2009 at 20:12
I’ve lived in gosport most my life, have met viggers several times, and he did an adequate job. The thing is, that he deliberately used the expenses policies to get something he did not need. As far as im concerned, he is a criminal, and should be tried under criminal law. Anyone who considers otherwise is not a supporter of democracy, but for a system where one rule is for the rulers and another for the people.