mel Stride
I didn't become an MP until I was 48. I come with the 'real world' experience of setting up my own successful businesses from scratch both here and in the USA. I know how to lead teams and drive change from the bottom up.
Our campaigning methods are outdated and inefficient. Too often Central Office interferes when it shouldn't, and yet is not there to provide support when it is needed. And we are not making the most of the talent and dedication of many of our grassroots activists.
The task is urgent, with local elections just around the corner. We need to rebuild from the bottom up, establishing stronger foundations in local government to lay the groundwork for success at the next general election.
I want to completely overhaul how the party does things and build a modern, professionalised campaigning machine. To begin that revolution, my pledges include:
1. A complete end to 'parachuting in' candidates, and selections taking place well in advance of elections, ideally years, to give time for candidates to establish themselves.
2. A larger in-house digital operation in CCHQ, staffed by experienced professionals and properly integrated with research and rebuttals teams to provide targeted digital resources to campaigns on the ground.
3. A directly elected deputy chairman responsible for the voluntary party.
4. Changing how our area and regional structures work to empower them to play a strategic coordinating role as a crucial middle layer between local associations and central HQ.
5. Establishing a 'Best Practice Team' of our greatest campaigners to feed in new ideas and spread higher standards across the party's operations.
You can read more about my ideas to turn us into a modern, efficient, democratic campaigning machine in my article for Conservative Home - read it here.
Yours sincerely,
Mel Stride
Conservative Party Leadership Candidate