Tory quits party in candidate row

A former Tory MP has resigned from the party claiming a decision not to select him as candidate for Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner was motivated by his views on Europe.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Jul 2012, 07:00 BST

Walter Sweeney, from Beverley, is the former MP for Vale of Glamorgan. He resigned in protest at the refusal of the Conservative Candidates Committee to approve him, choosing instead East Riding Councillor Matthew Grove.

“The reason I was rejected is because of my disagreements with the Conservative Party on Europe, which is ridiculous because my view that we should be given an ‘In or Out’ referendum has nothing to do with the role of commissioner,” he claimed.

It is not the first time Mr Sweeney has gone against the party – in 2008 he stood as an independent in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election against Tory candidate David Davis.

A spokesman for the Tories said: “We ran a fair, open and thorough selection process and in Councillor Matthew Grove we have the best possible Conservative candidate for Humberside’s Police and Crime Commissioner.”