Former MP is back in the fray
JASON MCCARTNEY, WHO QUIT POLITICS AFTER LOSING HIS COLNE VALLEY SEAT IN 2017, IS NOW BIDDING TO WIN IT BACK
FORMER Tory MP Jason McCartney is bidding to revive his political career and win back the Colne Valley seat he held for seven years, the Examiner can reveal.
Mr McCartney stormed out of the 2017 General Election count after his shock defeat by Labour’s Thelma Walker, who overturned a 5,378 Conservative majority to win by 915 votes.
A few weeks after the election defeat he revealed Prime Minister Theresa May rang him to apologise and accept responsibility for his defeat.
In January last year, after beginning a new career as head of public affairs at Huddersfield University, he told the Examiner he would not be standing again.
But it has now emerged that he is seeking selection for the Conservatives for the Colne Valley constituency.
There is no General Election planned until 2022 but many political commentators have predicted a snap election could be held this year if the Brexit turmoil continues.
Mr McCartney, 51, told the Examiner he was hoping to be chosen as the Conservatives’ Colne Valley candidate.
Referring to his change of heart, he said: “I thought selection was going to start in January last year and at that point I felt like I needed a break from frontline politics.
“But the selection process has now opened and I am going to throw my hat into the ring.
“I’ve been absolutely inundated with lots of folk pleading with me to stand again.
“I think we’re heading to a crucial time for Huddersfield and the Colne Valley and I want to be a big part of that. We need a positive vision for our area with a focus on business and innovation.
“When I go to Leeds I see cranes everywhere, Calderdale has redeveloped the Piece Hall and Barnsley has a new library coming.
“We have these opportunities and I want to bring them to Huddersfield and the Colne Valley.”
Mr McCartney continued to remain tight-lipped on what it was that cost him his huge majority.
He said: “All I will say is I won in 2010 with a 36% share of the vote and about 20,000 votes. I lost with a 47% share, about 28,000 votes.
“But I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with good will messages and people asking me to come back.”
Mrs Walker said she was surprised to hear of Mr McCartney’s comeback bid.
She said: “Whenever an election is called, I trust my constituents’ intel- ligence and integrity to look at my record, locally and in Westminster, of standing up for local people and services – and the Tories’ record, which he backed, of inflicting the worst cuts on our area since the Second World War.
“If he wants to try and defend that, that’s up to him.”