Tories ‘rejected Asian members’, claims councillor after defection
Party denies putting others in unwinnable seats
SSANDWELL Conservative have ‘deliberately declined’ the membership of Asian people in an attempt to consolidate power for a small section of the party, a former Tory councillor has sensationally claimed.
Councillor Ian Chambers, who was a Tory politician until defecting to the Labour party last week, accused some members in the Sandwell Conservatives of “knowingly rejecting” membership applications of Asian individuals.
Councillor Chambers added that a few members of the party were “uncomfortable” with Asian people in the party, and alleged that those members were “deliberately undermining” them.
The allegations have been strongly denied by the party.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he said: “I joined the Conservatives initially because I wanted to hold an opposition against Sandwell council.
“But ever since the allegations of racist social media posts have surfaced in the party, they have attempted to silence the membership.
“I have witnessed myself bullying and intimidation to vote one way.
“There are rumours consistently spread by a few members of the Conservatives – some of whom are elected councillors – to undermine the position of those councillors they are uncomfortable around, even though
they are democratically elected. I was bullied out of sitting in committees at Sandwell Council for very little reason.
“This, including the toxicity of the party, was the reason I left.
“It is really sad and disappointing to see a few members who are obsessed with power damaging the first credible opposition to really have sat in Sandwell council.”
Several local Conservative members, who have spoken to the LDRS, have also raised concerns.
They allege that the Sandwell Conservatives are deliberately placing
Asian candidates in “unwinnable” seats. In a document obtained by the LDRS, Sandwell Conservatives divide local election wards into colour codes of green, amber, red, and black.
Those wards identified as green are “winnable”, while those classified as amber are “less winnable”, and red or black deemed a sure-fire loss, according to councillor Chambers.
Those speaking to the LDRS claim that Asian members of the party are unfairly chosen to fight in wards that are deemed less winnable.
They also claim that up to five
Asian candidates have been selected in amber or red wards, with one rejected outright.
One Conservative resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: “I applied for membership back in October for the party, but was duly rejected by the party in January.
“I cannot think of any other reason why they would reject my application, except for my non-English name.
“I feel like I have been abandoned before even joining.
“How can the party expect diversity in the party?
“This works against the principle of diversity itself.”
Another told the LDRS they had “no confidence left” in the party to “internally deal with this issue”.
Another, who was a veteran member of Sandwell Conservatives, said: “There is so much pettiness and hatred in the party – it’s one of the reasons I left. I felt I was bullied out of the party.
“If you don’t agree with them, they will do everything to get rid of you. If the party cannot control itself now, how is it going to manage before the next general election?”