10:58am Thursday 14th December 2006
An outspoken Halesowen councillor has hit out at the Conservative Party claiming he was excluded from its MP candidate selection process because he is a white male.
Cllr Ken Turner made his controversial comments in light of the selection of millionaire lesbian Margot James as Stourbridge's Tory parliamentary candidate.
Cllr Turner, who is 63, said he also thought his age had worked against him.
He announced his bid to contest the Halesowen and Rowley Regis seat in the next general election back in September.
This week he revealed he had been unsuccessful at the first hurdle - a parliamentary assessment board which consists of a series of half-day tests.
The board must give applicants the nod to allow them to go onto the candidates' list so they can carry onto the next stage of the selection process - an application to the local Conservative group.
Councillor Turner said: "I have been excluded - central office wouldn't like me as an MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis."
When asked why he responded: "Age, gender, sex, a male of 63, white in colour - I think when we see who gets the position - the one who has Stourbridge is a deputy chairman at the candidates' office, a millionairess lesbian - it speaks volumes.
"I'm bitterly disappointed. I have spoken with Sylvia Heal's representatives to let her know I won't be able to fight against her - they said they would have enjoyed the fight.
He went on: "I'm pleased to say I can now encourage my supporters to support the person who will be selected."
Cllr Les Jones, who was beaten to the Stourbridge Tory candidate position by 40-something Ms James, has put his name into the hat for the Halesowen and Rowley Regis seat.
He said of cllr Turner's comments: "I don't think it's got anything to do with gender or colour because people are going through and becoming members of the candidate list.
"Age might be against him but it certainly isn't something the party lay down as a rule.
"There's a bit of a perception that because they are trying to get more women and ethnic minorities that they are being anti-white male. I don't believe that - it's a merit-based system.
"People who fail frequently have got excuses for why they have failed.
"I know white, male heterosexuals who have got through."
Councillor Jenny Dunn, chairman of the Halesowen and Rowley Regis Conservative Group, said all candidates sat in front of the same parliamentary assessment board. She said she knew of two people who had got through who were white males.
Of councillor Turner's comments she said: "I'm a bit upset he's said something like that because I can't see that would be the case from the evidence I have."
The Halesowen and Rowley Regis Tory candidate will be selected in January or February.
Margot James is the party's first openly lesbian candidate. The self-made millionairess is in a relationship with TV fashion stylist Jay Hunt.
Margot said 60 per cent of Tory candidates chosen to date were men and pointed out she is vice chairman of the Conservative Party for Women, not vice chairman at the candidates' office.
She added: "It would have been a clear conflict of interests. He is mistaken in my role."
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.halesowennews.co.uk