'This is ridiculous': Tory chair Richard Holden refuses to answer selection questions

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[@coffeecupman]

If you respond to questions like a broken record like this, you have outed yourself. You are unfit for any form of public office. Stand down.

[@iggy-a1]

This Trudeau style of answering questions is not a good look.

[@iangascoigne8231]

Yet people will still vote for them.

[@fang_uk]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@iggy-a1 I think the “Sunak style of answering questions is not a good look” would be the more accurate comparison here.

[@cornishhh]

It was word for word as if he'd memorised it.

[@torquemaddertorquemadder2080]

@@iangascoigne8231 _''''Yet people will still vote for them''''_ Do they? According to who?

[@Ritte13]

This is what the death of the Tory party looks like 😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-zr9nl2wl3o]

Love it 😂😂😂😂

[@TheLampini]

I'm buying shares in popcorn 🍿😁

[@garemacquarrie6705]

Can't come soon enough

[@torquemaddertorquemadder2080]

Nothing left for them to destroy, I guess.

[@emiliefreakinbrown1812]

Died a long time ago. That's what the reform party is. Old Tories.

[@Gaza-vu6gl]

This is why many MPs are self minded. This guy has no morals and a coward jumping ship of his constituents

[@andypaciorek4061]

As a former constituent of his I am extremely pleased to see the back of him.

[@fang_uk]

@@andypaciorek4061 Any stories you can share? I bet he’s not popular there right now by any kind of measure.

[@ChronicCraftsman]

They are all the same, they only care about themselves and their pockets, nothing more nothing less.

[@AllanM2e0]

@@fang_uk there’s not many to tell apart from him arguing with the Durham miners association and blocking most of his constituents calling them “labour extremists” on facebook. Most of his time was spent wandering around Stanhope and wolsingham for photo opportunities, other than that he was anonymous

[@bryandavidson6386]

Corruption, arrogance and self-entitlement. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Tory manifesto.

[@icarus877]

Yes but there is no difference between the Tory manifesto and the Labour manifesto.

[@robertmccartney4303]

Have you read the Labour manifesto ? Oh, probably not, there isn’t one. They’re making it up as they go along.

[@catherinemartin6258]

@@icarus877 the Tory’s are out to defend their scummy mps ⬆️

[@rossdavison6526]

Do they pay you per post?

[@jadedwitness9840]

Same as labour, same as 99% of politicans. The government is controlled by corporate interests anyway - you can't have a capitalist democracy for this very reason

[@hg82met]

It's like the last days of Rome in Tory party currently.

[@user-wd1rf4nt3m]

More like the last days of Saigon! They are just desperate and will lie to get out of th inevitable defeat!

[@Paul-ry5cx]

​@@user-wd1rf4nt3m they are dropping this northern turd into what someone thinks is a safe seat 'Basildon'...i think the same person behind this advised on the D Day debacle...

[@jackdanielsamarreto]

Yes correct and like Rome they have all collapsed this country into the sewer.

[@vamboroolz1612]

‘Tories fiddled as Rome burned’

[@ChronicCraftsman]

They are all self serving wrong uns, all politicians on every side.

[@dismalfist]

Complete failure of a politician. Get these tories out.

[@samhodgins9804]

Labour are just as rotten vote Reform UK and get rid of both

[@josephgunnett7715]

We don't want him,loyal to his bank account.Go away.

[@danielholmes-nj5nq]

What an utter, utter plank.

[@user-ch7ri7sm7h]

Absolutely correct !

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Carling Cup Class Chairman

[@user-nk3nx6lk7c]

Sly ,self serving individual

[@joangordon3376]

He doesn't even have the grace to be sly!

[@fang_uk]

@@joangordon3376 ^ THIS! ^

[@dawn5227]

So a tory then?

[@ChronicCraftsman]

They are all the same, every single one of them on all sides.

[@fabolvaskarika7940]

@@ChronicCraftsmanthat’s what they want us to believe and hoping that then we are not going to vote. They are more organised and even with low numbers they can win. If people believe there is an alternative, then they going to vote in larger numbers and that’s not good for them.

[@diddybopper2052]

Please don’t tell me the Tories aren’t destroying themselves on purpose at this point. No way is this just incompetence. This is by design. Got to be.

[@wishawweather5421]

Have a look at this interview again. It's sheer and utter incompetence. As a consequence they are destroying themselves. They are certainly not clever enough to do it by design.

[@jeromefranklin-ryan5985]

I do agree its hard to accept they can be this deliberately obtuse..

[@cornishhh]

Probably no coincidence that Macron has just called an election in France which he will likely lose.

[@andrewjames9996]

Of course it's by design. One world government is coming.

[@kayew5492]

Supertanskii played an old clip of Rik Mayall as Alan B'stard explaining how the then government had tried hard to lose to Neil Kinnock after the ravages of the Thatcher years. Some things never change...

[@jameshealey6535]

What a disgrace he is, the arrogance of self-entitlement. I hear the tory activists from his "new" seat are going to campaign and put all their efforts into the adjacent constituency and will not canvas or help Holden at all.

[@EppingBlogger]

They should work for Reform instead

[@jonathanj.7344]

​@@EppingBloggerVote Reform UK!

[@PSI-qf8bq]

​@@jonathanj.7344Deform Party the party of Tory rejects and freaks 😂😂😂😂

[@Fercough]

And get an autocratic more extreme version of what we have had for the last 14 years. Hell no.

[@laurav.7241]

@@jonathanj.7344 The mob that aren't even a political party? You're being had LOL

[@GarethMachin-rb2sg]

This is the tory MP who should be done for wasting police time when he reported Starmer. Slimy individual.

[@benwilson6145]

Slimy individual, Tory, same thing

[@user-nk3nx6lk7c]

Please don't vote for him. Transparency and integrity??, no chance

[@Randolph1233]

I would vote for him , because Labour is going to take a wrecking ball to every democratic institution. Wait and see.

[@user-ch7ri7sm7h]

Just like a criminal in custody no comment ! no comment ! No comment ! Which is usually a sign of guilt..... These frauds are running the country !

[@GSOHJM]

How is this utter disrespect for the people not a breach of the ministerial code?

[@LA-fr7fx]

Agree! Folks should not vote for him!

[@joangordon3376]

Because there isn't one it would appear!

[@GSOHJM]

@@joangordon3376 I wish that was satire 😢

[@stringer-ik1pc]

What about wes streetings boyfriend being given a safe labour seat. ???

[@gothicgolem2947]

What would party selections have to do with the ministerial code tho? And is the chairman of the tories a ministerial post?

[@andrewcooney2387]

What do you expect from the crooked tories, let's hope voters will sort out this guy double quick time and vote him out.

[@paulmccallum4847]

what a joke.

[@Spv1627]

Politics is about image as much as anything else. To reply with a slur against an opponent when you have a genuinely good question raised about your own conduct is the height of sleaze. Shame on him and anyone who votes for him

[@kevinbultitude6472]

You get what you vote for!

[@lindamacro5945]

Who has this guy got a hold on...what does he know that the Cons party are bending over backwards to accommodate him? What possible trail of deceit might be found here?

[@fang_uk]

Judging by this performance, I think you’re overestimating his intelligence to be honest.

[@martinclark7935]

How has he got the nerve? Voters of Basildon and Billericay - do you want to see this man as your MP?

[@user-zr9nl2wl3o]

The Guardian sowed him up good and proper in an imagined take on his interview for the candidate vacancy the other day. Watching this interview the take off was spot on. Even Tory voters deserve better than this grifter. 😂

[@TheLampini]

I recon the old adage that they'd "vote for a pig if you put a blue rosette on it" is about to be thoroughly tested.. 😂

[@if6was985]

Billericay...oh dear, they're daft enough to vote him in...

[@emmagreen5767]

Well I do hope not!! Hope they have more common sense not to vote Tories or labour in but to vote reform in!!

[@jaddison13579]

In worked in Basildon for a number of years. I should think he is nailed on sadly.

[@thereunionparty]

Oh my God! The answer to the question "Why were you parachuted in...?" does not begin with the words "Emily Thornberry"!

[@Frserthegreenengine]

"Hello can I take your order." "Emily Thornberry..." "Sir, this is a cafe."

[@bmjames]

"If you're a self-serving weasel, say Emily Thornberry" ... "EMILY THORNBERY!"

[@stevenhunter5799]

Useless. Can't work without a script 🤠

[@homosexualpanic]

Useless "rhymes with hunt"

[@sharonharris9782]

Whoever was doing this interview was fabulous. I wish we had more reporters in the States like this who will give pushback and not allow the lies.

[@susanpettitt713]

Another robot..

[@ericmurray8233]

What a complete pratt........

[@sirusvirus9650]

Shameless Political Class 😮

[@michaelfitzpatrick6264]

Embarrassing

[@mrtee1211]

In the tories case, if it can go wrong, it goes wrong!!!

[@sullafelix9681]

Richard Holden seemed to be on the verge of a panic attack right at the end there!

[@richardrepton6598]

It can't be any worse than Rishi Sunak trying to stop the benefits for disabled people.

[@Tricky850]

not a fan of rishi but this isn't true. He is trying to stop people pretending to be disabled from benefit fraud

[@bigbird6039]

I thought he was clamping down on malingerers . I know of such people.

[@jerryorange6983]

yes, taking 10 Boris buses away from the NHS.

[@caerleon87]

@@bigbird6039 Do you know what the fraud level is for PIP according to the DWP themselves..?? It is actually 0.4% I know you "think" you know "malingerers" but ever thought that they might have a hidden disability??

[@davethompson3326]

He tried to claim himself, but character and ethics impairments dont count

[@DavidAllam]

This inexperienced politician is the Chairman of a National Party in Government......this is truly depressing.

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

He will be at home now crying into his whisky, and Sunak will have his phone switched off 😂 Talk about a car wreck interview!

[@synapsef2858]

Probably "forgotten" his PIN for the evening.

[@marymcmahon598]

It’s about time journalists started calling them out for not answering direct questions. Let’s hope it carries on from now on.

[@eastmorton]

Nice to see a new episode of 'The Thick Of It.'

[@user-ru7lw2xh1k]

"What a baw bag". Personal Enrichment and Entitlement. Labour will wipe out, these baw bags".

[@drend182]

What`s the point of replacing baw bags with baw bags ?

[@aob4214]

Get out there and vote don’t be complacent.

[@robertmaslin3844]

Why do the Tories keep on about the mythical £2000?

[@oneleggedwonder1]

because they're desperate I read somewhere that under the Tories it's going to cost around £3000 under the Tories

[@dianeglanville]

tories just spouting of about labour it's just a distraction from whats going in there own party getting loads of dosh from donner

[@LA-fr7fx]

It is quite astonishing!

[@alanmawson9601]

​@@dianeglanvilleQuite like a donner, plenty of chili sauce!

[@microfarming8583]

Because with socialism you always pay more tax

[@spishe683]

This is completely different from the USA, where the interviewers bend let the politicians they are interviewing get away with every kind of lie and nonsense they like.

[@ysgol3]

😂😂An absolute classic - and the reason this twerp has been outrageously handed a safe seat is he's supposed to be the Tories' number one vote winning interviewee!

[@andrewcooney2387]

Let's hope that the voters will sort this gangster out for once and for all

[@JollyGraham]

This is astonishing. He makes no attempt to answer the question. What utter utter arrogance, typical Tory.

[@1234567marks]

He’s not the brightest 😏

[@malcolmstonebridge7933]

Much like the other ~ 650 of them - good at looking after themselves though.

[@user-dx4fh7he1g]

You can't teach thick...

[@davybrown64]

Met him as my MP to discuss serious issues about my disabled grandsons education. Paid for his coffee, never heard from him or his office again, not even an acknowledgement. He’s the worst MP and Party Chair ever. He and his type are the reason the party’s facing and going to be obliterated.

[@gerardmackay8909]

I still find it staggering that Consett! of all places, laid waste by Thatcher’s industrial 1980s wrecking ball, elected this slimeball as its MPs. Utterly shameful!

[@AllanM2e0]

@@gerardmackay8909 it was obviously a protest vote but I totally understand what you mean. I couldn’t believe it either , the Tories destroyed Consett and 44 years on I still don’t think it’s recovered

[@isaacho8230]

Well, unfortunately it’s because of Emily Thornberry

[@AllanM2e0]

@@isaacho8230 she has a lot to answer for. The fact she should claim expenses for living in his head rent free for this long needs looking into

[@gerardmackay8909]

@@AllanM2e0 yes the ‘oven ready deal’ and levelling up BS were effective bits of propaganda.

[@chad0x]

Tells the questioner which questions to ask, repeats the £2000 lie, suggests that everyone has kids in private school and that labour will increase class sizes across the country by charging VAT on private school places.

[@MBReader410]

Two things can be true at the same time

[@rdouthwaite]

​@@MBReader410conversely four things can also be incorrect at the same time.

[@Spv1627]

@@MBReader410 some two things can be, others can’t. For example, it is impossible to be both a working-class Tory voter and intelligent.

[@Cannon_Fodder_Russians]

If you repeat the same lie enough times people will believe that it's true. ~ Joseph Goebbels.

[@praguepersona9624]

@@Spv1627 yeah, but.....Emily Thornberry something aomething.

[@user-zc4yd9ss7h]

The Billericay Conservative Association rejects Holden and resents deeply his imposition. They wanted a local guy and are refusing to canvass for him.

[@jeromefranklin-ryan5985]

good! It was totally unfair and undemocratic to meddle with the due process for selecting candidates. I gather the grass roots party members in that constituency have put up a local Independent Conservative Candidate.

[@Jon-xw9om]

HE'S the one selected above everyone else? HE'S the best they have to offer? JFW.

[@TheLampini]

On a "selection" list of ONE! 😂 The paper the list was printed out on would make a better MP 😂😂

[@briancrellin2441]

Exactly ! The dearth of quality ,conviction politicians is frightening ,and the fact that Labour put forward a wooden flip ,flop nonentity as prospective PM when he was heavily involved in the Rotherham scandal as the leader of the CPS in the labour administration, tells you all you need to know about the state of British politics at present time.

[@Themanyfacesofego]

Dear Voters of Basildon and Billericay, Please, whatever you do, do NOT vote for this man. This goes beyond party loyalty; It's about morality and fairness. It would be wrong to vote for him. He symbolises what is wrong with politics, and exactly what we do not want. Yours Sincerely, A Normal, British Person. 🇬🇧

[@bnewellz]

Holy f@ck, its a Monty Python sketch...surely 😂

[@andipeters743]

Pathetic and self-serving. Can they do anything else this week to undermine themselves? Bet they can.

[@encoreunefois1X]

Come on now Conservatives, you really can't vote for this. There comes a point where it becomes farcical and we're clearly well past that now.

[@MrJoe501]

2:01 need more journalism like this

[@lokensicarius9347]

He needs to be punished, this isn't okay. Disgusting.

[@pauls4879]

Mr. Entitled.

[@Hbw113]

He knows it’s indefensible so rather than answer the question the interviewers asking he just waffles about Labour

[@terryclinton4263]

How can something so pathetic be so hilarious at the same time?😵‍💫

[@markrutlidge5427]

Waw, or what a wally.

[@mattmccann8805]

Absolute joke.

[@Anchormen1778]

Absolutely shocking arrogance, repeating the £2k tax LIE!!

[@Peter-sk5vg]

This is fabulous. Marvellous chap. Straight as a snake

[@goitcore]

This is their best 😂😂😂

[@mozzbromozzbro4063]

TOTALLY EMBARRASSING.

[@davidellis5141]

He knows what's coming ... A Labour 🌹 Landslide !

[@beautybev]

🙏🏼

[@evolassunglasses4673]

And then a financial collapse

[@baldieman64]

Or your worst nightmare. Prime minister Farage.

[@leehighland5435]

A currency landslide downwards and a immigration landslide upwards. It's all labour is good for.

[@Downshire]

@@evolassunglasses4673what, like Liss ‘lettuce’ Truss? Wasn’t she a Tory….

[@andyhorse6146]

This is both priceless and so disappointing at the same time!.....its not so much in that what he's saying is literally incredible but whats worse is his inane inability to converse like a fully-functioning human!!....the man is acting like one of the characters in a film by JOHN CARPENTER i recently saw....THEY LIVE!

[@rdouthwaite]

That's NPCs for you...

[@GazGaryGazza]

Hilarious to see him also booted out - it's coming on down the line chooo choooo that Portilo moment all across the country July 5th 2024

[@user-wf3nn6rx5t]

The records stuck, the records stuck, the records stuck, the records stuck.............................

[@Rustinho]

Private school children get about 4x the state subsidy per pupil in comparison to state school children thanks to VAT exemption, charity status boosting donations by 20% because of gift aid via the Treasury, private schools don't pay stamp duty on property sales, etc. State schools will be better off with private school pupils attending them instead of private schools!

[@bluelit4830]

Yea that’s the issue here.

[@MBReader410]

How on earth will the mere presence of the children displaced from independent schools improve state schools? Are they somehow superhuman?

[@martinclark7935]

Gift Aid boosts donations by 25%.

[@lukeduke7476]

And this is why these people are hated…

[@palestinev3722]

Con-self-servatives. Glad to have watched this....KEEP DIGGING

[@RS-go3em]

Actual LOL mind the door on the way out. People of Essex you know what to do.

[@user-is7ik6cv6v]

I wouldn't vote for anyone parachuted into my area. Local people understand local issues. Bettering an area improves their life as much as that of every other constituent. I would choose a different, local candidate.

[@andrewp3636]

The local MP has been lied about by CCHQ. They were telling the media he was seriously ill.... He had to tell everyone that no he's not going to die it's just CCHQ ... LYING AGAIN!!!

[@Fluffyudders]

Satire is dead, because this is reality.

[@Albert-nf8jk]

Shameful

[@wino99999]

Journalist at the end should have said 'OK F off then!

[@davidbailey4544]

Why are the public "SO THICK" to believe any MP from Any party ? They WILL say Anything to get your vote yet people still believe them, what hope have we got ????

[@michaelcatto8323]

He is showing why they are finished! X lifetime Conservative voter age 78.

[@stadiumarcadium2351]

Thank you for ruining the country by treating politics like a football team you would be perfect candidate for a Turkish citizenship

[@habibali3106]

PAYING £2000.00 MORE...PAYING £2000.00 MORE...KEEP REPEATING SAME FOR ALL ?/S.....WELL TRAINED.....

[@Cannon_Fodder_Russians]

If you repeat the same lie enough times people will believe that it's true. ~ Joseph Goebbels.

[@matlew1960]

It should be law that if you stand for a constituency then you have to have lived there for at least one year as your prominent address and pay taxes there. And not in a B & B.

[@LL-jb5si]

Bye bye bye bye, voting you out all the way from Australia 👋

[@overcompensation5354]

He won't get in so don't worry. I live round the corner - he won't get in.

[@Michael-is2se]

A new system has never been needed so much!!

[@johnlewisjames6663]

Someone needs to fix the algorithms on these new AI's.

[@thisismetoday]

0:55 STOP HIM. He’s not speaking on the question at all!! This gaslighting is such a brain drain. Its exhausting listening to these people, as you have to pay so much attention in order to not be misled.

[@stevensteptoe682]

He he suffered some sort of brain damage that makes him incapable of hearing the simple question that has been put to him, and answering that question?

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

A pity the media didn’t hold these MPs to account in the past.

[@kevinmott6205]

Duplicitous . Definitions of duplicitous. adjective. Marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another. synonyms: Janus-faced, ambidextrous, deceitful, double-dealing, double-faced, double-tongued, two-faced dishonest, dishonorable.

[@HelloAll8031]

Corruption, and self-entitlement.

[@MartialArtUK]

I disagree they will definitely pay 2 grand extra to keep them away from the normal kids. And they will write that tax off in some other way or get someone else to pay. Its a very strange idea protecting the already wealthy from paying taxes. Personally I think no private schools they should all be working for the greater good the general public and the national interest.

[@davidmurphy563]

Hats off to the journalist. Absolutely brilliant work.

[@user-kc1uf4og8m]

Like a satirical comedy sketch 😂😂😂😂

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Should see how little is answered in Canada these days.

[@cholley7782]

Absolute arrogance

[@maf74]

I'm afraid, as a former Tory voters, brought up in a Tory family, that this Tory obsession with private schools when they have trashed state school provision shows how out of touch they are.

[@ambera.-c9653]

Oh so you want to see even worse outcomes in the state sector do you? Extra pupils means less individual attention; poor discipline and worse results!

[@maf74]

@ambera.-c9653 no, I want to see investment in the state sector. Bring teacher numbers back up, pay them properly, make them feel valued for the hugely important work they do. That's helping everyone.

[@stadiumarcadium2351]

Thank you for ruining the country by treating politics like a football team

[@theelmonk]

Private schools are businesses unless registered as charities. Charities can't select their users. Businesses are taxed. End of.

[@DylRicho]

This £2,094 thing needs to stop. You're not fooling anyone. The Conservative party has a consistent track record of raising taxes. That same calculation comes to £3,518 with the Conservatives.

[@Cannon_Fodder_Russians]

If you repeat the same lie enough times people will believe that it's true. ~ Joseph Goebbels.

[@thescottyboy9198]

Typical politician answering questions no one asked and not even attempting to answer the questions being asked. This is totally unacceptable and as other commentators have said one here "he is completely unfit for public office".

[@phil4499]

What happens when his battery runs out. 😮

[@Cannon_Fodder_Russians]

Don't worry the voters are about to FACTORY RESET the Tory party.

[@infesticon]

What makes this extra dumb is this an interview for many news outlets. So he's gonna be embrassed on many platforms.

[@ChazDude]

ITV: "What is the meaning of life?" RH: "Emily Thornberry-"

[@aperson22222]

Ridiculous indeed.

[@martinrose2833]

We've got four more weeks of this ....stuff

[@mlob1972]

I think we are going to have to create a new word to define the Tories of the 2010-20s. It's beyond narcissism, beyond patronising, beyond self-righteousness. "It doesn't really matter what we've done, just think about what they are going to do". They have told so many lies, they just don't know what the truth is anymore. The sheer contempt for the British people is quite frankly, scary. And the definition of Patriotism is not telling the nation what YOU think they should be hearing. Shameful the way they are desperately trying to maintain their fingernail grip on power.