Tory candidate rubbishes claims that Black Country accent held back hopeful MP

Glenis Simms was one of two Tory councillors in Dudley who shocked their party by crossing the floor and joining Labour last week.

And the former shadow cabinet member also claimed that she had been snubbed from an approved list of candidates to become Tory MPs because of her strong Black Country accent.

She said she was told she would only ever be selected for seats within the West Midlands.

Councillor Simms defected along with Councillor Cheryl Billingham.

But Afzal Amin, who is standing for the Conservatives in Dudley North, said an accent would not stop someone becoming a prospective parliamentary candidate.

Mr Amin said: "I grew up in Smethwick and I live in Sedgley. I am Black Country through and through, and I was chosen by the Conservative Party to fight the Dudley North seat.

"More than 4,000 applicants applied to the Conservative party to become candidates. Only 105 were chosen. It is natural to feel dejected when one's lifelong dreams don't quite materialise.

"If a candidate has only ever lived and worked in their home town, has virtually no experience of any aspect of our country or foreign countries beyond the occasional few days a year, it is highly likely that the party would want to use that candidate's local knowledge, acquaintances, and their intimate awareness of the issues for the benefit of constituents, and the party.

"I readily concede that I don't know the details of why some candidates are rejected, but the General Election and the Conservative party's desire to deliver the very best for our country is not and cannot be held to ransom by spurious allegations concerning accents.

"As we have seen, local accents don't stop elected members being very publicly slapped by fellow MPs, not because of how they speak, but because of the rubbish that they spout."

Councillor Simms has been replaced as shadow cabinet member for children's services by Councillor Les Jones.