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Duncan Conners
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Party is full of Oxbridge snobs, says Tory deputy
He accuses his female boss of behaving like Hyacinth Bucket
THE Deputy chairman of the Islington Conservatives resigned from the party this week accusing his chairwoman of acting like a “hyped up Hyacinth Bucket” the super snob from BBC TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.
Economic historian Duncan Connors, 32, accused Margaret Reese of being “over bearing” and “dictatorial”.
Mrs Reese told the Tribune she had never watched the programme and would not comment on a personal issue. “But I can say that we are a happy association,” she said, “and I’m sorry to hear Mr Connors is upset.”
Mr Connors, who went to comprehensive school, also accused the party nationally of being dominated by a public school educated Oxbridge elite.
He said Islington Tories were good at giving out leaflets but hopeless in engaging with people.
His relationship with Mrs Reese reached a head after his wife Sumita became ill recently having given birth.
He said: “Instead of being sympathetic chairwoman Margaret was very off-hand. My wife was unwell and I spent six weeks looking after her and our new baby. But Margaret kept ringing me up and hassling me and when I said my wife was very ill she called a meeting to get me sacked.”
He added: “Under previous leaders like Michael Howard and William Hague you got the best man for the job – now you have to be public school educated.
“If there’s someone with a first class degree from Manchester University and someone with a third class degree from Oxford the person from Oxford gets the job.
“The demographics at central office have changed. People from state schools, like myself, who went up in the world have been pushed out by a bunch of Oxbridge cronies. There’s also a huge Eton contingent including Cameron himself.”
Part Scottish Mr Connors, a Conservative for eight years, is to stand down as chairman of the Tollington Park ward party and as Deputy chairman of the Islington Conservatives.
He is considering standing as an Independent in Islington while offering his services to the House of Commons Scottish National party.
He added: “I’ve met the local Greens, Lib Dems and Labour candidates who actually believe in something but many Tories in Islington are out of touch. They will never get on to the council let alone become MP.
“Look at Tower Hamlets, for example, where the Tories got seats on the council because they read the demographic lie of the land. They will never win seats in Islington until they stop giving out leaflets and start engaging. No one reads leaflets – you have to talk to people if you want to persuade them.” Mrs Reese said that the party both locally and nationally was not top heavy with a public school elite. “I am a former school teacher who was educated at state school,” she said. “We’ve got people from all walks of life.”
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