Truss turmoil fires blogging row

The prospect of Tory A-list candidate Elizabeth Truss being deselected in SW Norfolk has led to a bitter war of words on Conservative websites.

There is widespread anger among Tory grass-roots members in the constituency because she did not tell them about an affair with MP Mark Field in 2004/5.

Around 400 members of the SW Norfolk Conservative Association will now decide her future in mid November.

This is despite David Cameron giving her his full backing.

Sources have told the Politics Show that Ms Truss won convincingly on the first ballot, with more than 50% of the vote.

She was selected last Saturday.

It has prompted a bitter response on Conservative blogs.

Influential blogger Iain Dale described SW Norfolk Tories as "Neanderthal" in refusing to endorse Ms Truss in defiance of the party leader.

Elizabeth Truss is a married mother of two, a Greenwich councillor and works at the think tank Reform.

When David Cameron endorsed her at his news conference he described her as "an excellent candidate".

Mr Cameron said the information about her affair with Mark Field was in the public domain.

The local party said it knew nothing of the affair and she did not tell them although an internet search on the name 'Elizabeth Truss' quickly brings up articles which mention it.

It raises a question: was the local party bothered more that they were being told what to do?

Bad publicity

The story has become one of the big talking points on Conservative blogs and Norfolk is taking a hammering from Tories across the country.

One blogger said: "How can anyone expect Liz and her family to work with and live among these people after this?"

Others added: "SW Norfolk Tories are stretching patience to breaking point" and "She is an intelligent and articulate woman. In SW Norfolk, such a thing must be a rarity."

The meeting to decide if Elizabeth Truss remains as candidate for SW Norfolk is on 14 November.

The Politics Show with Jon Sopel and Amelia Reynolds on Sunday, 1 November at 1100 on BBC One.

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