County councillor 'shocked' after de-selection (From Watford Observer)

County councillor 'shocked' after de-selection

1:21pm Thursday 18th December 2008 in News

A Conservative county councillor has accused former friends and colleagues of “stabbing him in the back” and forcing him from his seat.

Councillor Roy Clements, who represents the Oxhey Park seat, has been told by party officials that he cannot seek re-election when voters next go to the polls in June.

Mr Clements, 73, who was elected to the seat in both 2001 and 2005, said he was “shocked and devastated” to learn of his de-selection.

After a recent meeting of the Watford Conservative Association (WCA) – which selects candidates for both council and Parliamentary elections – Mr Clements was told he could not stand for a third term, despite returning a healthy majority of 1,164 votes in 2005.

His ‘safe’ Conservative seat, he was told, will instead be contested by former county and district councillor Frances Button, an announcement confirmed in the latest in Touch party campaign leaflet.

A furious Mr Clements, who has not ruled out standing as an independent candidate in protest, was one of three applicants interviewed by a panel at the party’s London Colney HQ.

“I really feel that I’ve been stabbed in the back. I just can’t understand why they would do this."

Councillor Roy Clements

After a secret ballot he was informed that he had been unsuccessful in his application.

He has, however, queried why three such strong candidates were pitted against each other in such a comfortable seat; questioning why such experienced individuals were not deployed in nearby wards controlled by rival parties.

Mr Clements, a senior member of the council’s administration, believes a clash of personalities with WCA Chairman Steve O’Brien has cost him his seat.

He said: “I was shocked and devastated to be told I had not been reselected.

“I really feel that I’ve been stabbed in the back. I just can’t understand why they would do this in a safe seat rather than going for a winnable Liberal Democrat or Labour seat.

“I have always had the friendship and support of each of the previous WCA chairmen but it quickly became apparent that when Steve was appointed, he and I did not have the same rapport.”

Mr Clements, first elected as a parish councillor in 1979, has been given strong support by many party colleagues.

Three Rivers District Councillor Tony Barton said: “Roy is an exemplary councillor who has worked very hard for his community for nearly 30 years.”

Mr O’Brien told the Watford Observer that Mr Clements has been a hard working and much respected councillor but has fallen victim to an entirely fair and proper selection process.

He said: “I admire Roy very much and think he’s done a wonderful job. But we needed to have this selection process under the rules which are laid down by central office. Roy is not the only person not to be reselected.

“I don’t agree that he has been de-selected – rather that somebody else has been selected.”