I would never complain that I haven’t had my say in a Tory selection (or any other party’s selection). It is very easy and cheap to join a political party, I think the barriers to entry in participating are low, something like £10/year for the Green Party. I agree open caucuses are an attempt to open up a previously closed approach to selecting candidates… it’s just I don’t think closed (as in party member only) approaches to candidate selection are a problem!

Regards,
Jason

Sorry to hear about your accident as well and I wish you well in your recovery.

I think your point about attacking other parties for not having selected their candidates by way of open primary, sorry, caucus (I think i corrected myself in my comment on BPB’s blog as well) was aimed at me.

My aim was not to attack other parties per se, but more to illustrate the fact, in the light of BPB’s prejudice comments, that whether or not Open Caucuses solve fundamental issues with politics (I don’t agree they are a gimmick and i equally I don’t think that they are flawless), you surely cannot deny the fact that it is at least an attempt to open up the previously closed-door approach to selecting candidates. It can’t be a bad thing to involve more people and to involve constituents in that process can it? My point was that if people really believe there is prejudice in the appointment of PPCs for the conservative party, then go along to the Open Caucus and take part – you can’t then complain that you haven’t had your say.

As for having a go about policy differences, as I said on BPB’s blog, I am politically unafilliated, but I shall attempt in future to comment more on that, but from my own rather than any party angle.

All the best…