MP Jonathan Djanogly is said to be fighting for his political career after failing to win automatic re-selection for Huntingdon.
Political journalist Michael Creek tweeted today: “I hear that this weekend the selection committee of local Conservative association voted not to reselect Jonathan Djanogly as their candidate.
“He can now appeal to the members.”
MP Jonathan Djanogly fails to win automatic re selection by local Conservatives
Mr Creek said he has been told that for some of the committee that recent revelations about the Djanogly family’s housekeepers were “the last straw”.
In a piece for the Guido Fawkes website – which has an uncanny knack of successful tip-offs – Mr Crick says Mr Djanogly lost the vote, held on Saturday, by a margin of 12-9.
“Huntingdon has been affected by boundary changes, and there is a perception that new intake areas may have influenced opinion against the MP,” he writes.
🔵 HUNTINGDON: I hear that this weekend the selection committee of local Conservative association voted not to reselect Jonathan Djanogly as their candidate. He can now appeal to the members. For some of committee, I'm told, this article was last straw: https://t.co/Je3kTiAP19
— @Tomorrow'sMPs (@tomorrowsmps) April 4, 2023
“Djanogly’s office insist the MP will appeal the decision to the membership – adding that after 22 years serving the constituency, he had no alternative other than to keep fighting.
“The membership contest is by no means a forgone conclusion though even on current polls the seat is winnable. No wonder Jonathan is so keen to keep it.”
Jonathan Djanogly MP,
One Leisure, St Ives
Friday 06 May 2022.
Picture by Terry Harris.
For the MP, it was ‘business as usual’ as he launched a survey on crime.
“Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is one of my top priorities for the Huntingdon Constituency and I want to hear the thoughts of local residents on this,” he said.
“That is why today I am launching a new survey for constituents to respond to, the results from which I will be reporting back on later this year and raising with the police.
“It is vital that residents feel safe in their homes and on the streets, and do have your say by completing the survey on my website.”
Mr Djanogly has been involved in politics since the mid-1980s and became a London councillor in 1994.
Jonathan Djanogly to Appeal Association Decision Against Reselection https://t.co/Ur99fB630t pic.twitter.com/FDT8DY2WOe
— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) April 4, 2023
1997, he stood for Parliament in the Labour held seat of Oxford East and was first elected to represent the Huntingdon constituency in 2001 and then re-elected in both 2005 and 2010.
From the formation of the Coalition Government in May 2010 until September 2012 he served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice.
However it was a story earlier this year of a housekeeper at his London home that may have changed the mind of some of his Conservative supporters.
MP Jonathan Djanogly fails to win automatic re selection by local Conservatives
It was revealed that a housekeeper had been given duties by his wife that included “detailed instructions about the rotation of avocados between the fruit bowl and the fridge”.
The woman was also instructed “about counting cutlery, about how to carry items from the coffee table to the sink, and about how to clean stools,” an employment tribunal judge said.
“The laundry instructions alone run to a page and a half and include instructions on setting alarms and sending texts about collection of dirty clothes.”
There followed a lengthy and detailed report of two successful employment claims.
Mr Djanogly said: “Rebecca (his wife) accepts the resulting tribunal judgements and will be reviewing contractual terms with future employees.
“Neither tribunal judgement referred to mistreatment of employees, let alone modern-day slavery, and any suggestion that this occurred at any point is firmly denied”.
This is huge news for Huntingdon (if not for St Neots). Jonathan – who is a nice chap – has been widely derided as one of the least effective MPs in the country, in what was one of their safest seats. https://t.co/cOlLMkCgSa
— Stephen Ferguson (@borofergie) April 4, 2023
“I am aware of a story circulating in some parts of the press about my wife, Miss Rebecca Silk, and I wish to make clear that she is always concerned about the welfare of her employees.
“It is correct that Rebecca had contractual employment disputes with two individuals.
“Rebecca accepts the resulting tribunal judgements and will be reviewing contractual terms with future employees.
“Neither tribunal judgement referred to mistreatment of employees, let alone modern-day slavery, and any suggestion that this occurred at any point is firmly denied.
“Appropriate legal action is being actively considered in response.”
