Pregnant Tory PPC “forced out” under pressure from “dodgy local party chairman”

CCHQ were left scrambling to save one of their star candidates this evening amidst allegations that she was forced out by local party members. Joanne Cash, the Tories’ PPC in the key target of Westminster North, resigned at an emergency meeting of the local Conservative Association attended by party chairman Eric Pickles and Lords leader Tom Strathclyde.

This blow to David Cameron’s efforts to select more female candidates comes after Liz Truss, the Tories’ candidate in South West Norfolk, survived a concerted deselection attempt after she failed to inform the local party that she (shock! horror!) had an affair a mere four years previously. Former Observer political editor Gabby Hinsliff has suggested Cash has faced difficulties with her local party after becoming pregnant.

Same old Tories.