David Cameron is looking at plans to downgrade hundreds of Tory associations and centralise party membership lists.
Lord Feldman of Elstree, the Tory chairman, will present plans today to merge associations into between 60 and 70 “multi-constituency associations” based loosely on counties.
According to The Daily Telegraph, these “super-associations” would employ permanent party staff, downgrading the role of association chairmen. The party’s membership lists would be run from Conservative Central Office, although the constituency party would retain responsibility for recruitment.
The changes are the result of a review set up by Lord Feldman after the election. Some believe that it is an attempt to reduce the influence of party members on the next leadership contest. A Conservative spokesman said: “Multi-constituency associations can only be formed by a vote of party members in those constituencies — nothing is being axed.”