‘Lack of support’ for Moorlands MP sees Tory duo facing axe
ONE member has resigned and one is facing expulsion from Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative Association following claims that they were ‘unsupportive’ of Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley at the last election.
Darren Barlow of Warslow and Matthew Cooper of Meerbrook both deny the allegations submitted by the association. Mr Cooper has now let his membership lapse.
They both received a letter of temporary suspension last January, but a decision on their future in the association has yet to be decided, despite the allegations being made 11 months ago.
A letter to Mr Barlow said that an allegation had been made towards him from a member following a meet and greet with Mrs Bradley at a pub in Warslow back in November.
But Mr Barlow says the complaint was not true.
Mr Cooper, meanwhile, was suspended after two complaints about his lack of support for Mrs Bradley. He says the Moorlands MP “was not carrying out the wishes of her constituents”.
Speaking to the Post &Times, Mr Cooper added that the association was not interested in what he had to say, so he let his membership lapse.
He said: “Mrs Bradley sent out a begging letter to residents asking for financial support to her election campaign.
“I asked her three times why this had been done when I was eventually told her campaign was fully funded. The whole issue has been a shambles and they are not interested in people’s views.
“Most of the Staffordshire Moorlands voted for Brexit, but Mrs Bradley abstained. She was not carrying out the wishes of her constituents.”
A letter to Mr Cooper from the Conservative Association informed him of his temporary suspension.
The first complaint said: “I refer to the Leek branch meeting held at the Roebuck pub during the election campaign. I found Matthew Cooper to be non-supportive and disrespectful towards Karen. I know that other members present agree with me. It was also interesting that he was full of criticisms at the meeting but I believe was not seen to help at all during the election campaign.”
The second complaint said: “Two members have provided screenshot evidence from social media made by yourself that appear to be publicly unsupportive of the Conservative MP.”
Meanwhile, the complaint against Mr Barlow said: “I was present at Karen’s meet and greet in Warslow at the Greyhound pub on November 21.
“It was apparent that Darren Barlow had organised a group of people to come to the event in order to lobby Karen.
“I know that Karen felt uncomfortable despite trying to answer all the questions and attacks.
“While I totally agree that constituents should have the opportunity to ask candidates questions about both local and national issues, it became clear that many of the participants had come along just to argue.
“Darren Barlow was waiting by the entrance and greeted them as they arrived, making it obvious that he had set this up.
“He then was himself very rude and disrespectful to Karen with his own questions and statements, when as a member I believe he should have been more supportive.”
But Mr Barlow said the complaints were totally untrue: “I have got written evidence from many people at the Warslow meeting stating I did not arrange for them to attend.
“The whole thing has been a shambles. It is 11 months since the allegations were made. They have used covid as an excuse, but this should have been dealt with within weeks.”
Mr Barlow and Mr Cooper were called to a meeting at the Rudyard Hotel in February but refused to enter as they were not allowed to go in together.
“We were then told another meeting would be arranged, but we are still waiting,” added Mr Barlow.
“I have told the association not to take out my membership fee until the matter was resolved, but they have. They should not do this if they have suspended me from the association.”
Mrs Bradley’s office was contacted over the comments but said it was a matter for the Conservative Association.
The Post & Times tried several times to contact the chairman of the Staffordshire Moorlands Conservative Association, but he has not been available for comment.