*Tortoise and the Tories The Conservative Party is a private members’ club that does not need to provide any information to the public about the membership that elects the party leader and prime minister or how the election is run, the High Court has ruled.
So what? Six of the last nine prime ministers – Major, Brown, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak – were ushered into Downing Street by their parties, not the public. Three ran the country without ever winning a general election.
The High Court’s ruling highlights – and preserves – the secrecy surrounding elections like the one that saw Liz Truss succeed Boris Johnson last year.
Tortoise Media sought a Judicial Review of the Conservative Party’s conduct of that election on the grounds that, although the party is a private organisation, it serves a public function when running an election that chooses the prime minister.
Mr Justice Fordham rejected that argument today. *
Interesting article. So basically the court ruling says it is what it is and there’s nothing they can directly do about it. The Tories (and I think the article also concedes, Labour) are effectively private members clubs even though the leader might during a mid term change go on to be in the highest public office in the UK. Did I understand that correctly?
Only Parliament can open up these opaque rules and standardise them which is exactly what Keir is going to do when he gets in… right?
Did I understand that correctly?
Unfortunately, yes. Decisions are made in smoke-filled rooms from which the next leader of the country emerges, often going straight into power with no need for an election. It’s horrifying when you stop to think about it.
It’s an aspect of our “democracy” we rarely scrutinise because that’s the way it’s always been but it’s a mess wide open for corruption.
Hi Max 👋😊
