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Prospective North Northamptonshire councillors told to campaign for MP

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Conservative council election candidates will have to campaign door-to-door in Kettering

Prospective Tory councillors in a county have been told they must do 30 sessions of doorstep canvassing for an MP if they want to stand for election.

The Kettering Constituency Conservative Association in Northamptonshire, said it had introduced the requirement "to maximise the opportunity" for the local MP to be re-elected.

Some existing councillors have told the BBC they do not have enough spare time.

The association said alternative options were available.

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Philip Hollobone has been the MP for Kettering since 2005

The association sent an e-mail about "Operation Doorstep" earlier this month, which was jointly written by Philip Hollobone, the Conservative MP for Kettering, and Ash Davies, the deputy chair of Kettering Constituency Conservative Association.

The email told members that they would have to canvass for the MP at weekends if they wanted to be eligible to stand in the May 2025 election for seats on North Northamptonshire Council (NNC).

It said: "By standing for election, there is an expectation that all candidates will support the upcoming campaigns by actively canvassing and leafleting.

"Candidates wishing to stand for NNC will need to have attended a minimum of 30 Operation Doorstep sessions to be able to go forward for candidate approval in the first wave."

One councillor told the BBC: "It's something that the MP wants. I don't think it's the full part of being a councillor. I meet people out in the public all the time. I don't think canvassing is imperative."

Another said: "I just smiled when I saw it, I don't have the time to commit to that. I've been involved with the Conservatives for 25 years. This doesn't help to attract new candidates."

PA Media Woman in long red coat and man in long black coat walking along a streetPA Media
Gen Kitchen canvassed door-to-door with the Shadow Paymaster General before the Wellingborough by-election last month

In a statement, the association said: "To maximise the opportunity for Philip and councillors to be re-elected so they can continue to serve and improve our community, we recently asked for a minimum level of campaign support from those wishing to stand again for NNC.

"Canvassing sessions are a great way to get out and speak directly with and listen to residents.

"However, to ensure inclusivity, care has been taken to provide alternative options for members, for example those that may not find certain times convenient or may not be able to walk long distances."

Philip Hollobone has been approached for a response.

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