Questions over sale of Tory office in north Wales
Conservative party member Nic Connor said: "No one believes that foul play has happened. The money has been spent somewhere but it hasn't been documented properly."There are concerns that some party members may not want to campaign in the region for the Conservatives, who face a Senedd election in less than a years' time, as a result of what has happened.The move to take over the local party branch follows growing complaints among grassroots members about the operation of the party in Wales, amid rows over selections and who can stand in Senedd elections.
Questions about the cash emerged publicly after an email, sent by Welsh Tory chairman Bernard Gentry late on Monday night, informed the North West Wales Conservative Federation had been given "supported status" and that all the area's grassroots executives and officers had been stripped of their positions.The federation is in effect the Tory party for the Senedd seat of Bangor Conwy Môn, which covers Anglesey and the area around Bangor, Llandudno and Conwy.Up until late 2024 it was chaired by Mr Gentry, before he won election to be chairman of the Welsh Conservatives.In an email to members of the Conservative party board Mr Connor, himself a former CCHQ employee and an executive on the federation, asked if the new team will "continue investigating the missing" cash "from the Federation accounts"."The money originated from the sale of the former Ynys Mon constituency office and has been unaccounted for since Bernard Gentry served as an officer, and later chairman, of the North West Wales Conservative Federation".Until around two years ago the Conservative Party had an office in Llangefni in Anglesey.Records from the Land Registry show that the property, on Bridge Street, was sold in January 2023 for £70,000.According to one source seen by the BBC there was an expectation that some of the cash would be ring fenced for use on Ynys Môn.The party unsuccessfully fought to keep its seat in the consistency at the general election last summer, and party members say that questions have been raised since over what happened to the cash.Different figures have been claimed for how much this was - one claims that about £42,000 was expected to be used on Anglesey.
'Serious concern'
His letter said the decision to take over the federation came as a surprise with "no explanation", "no discussion" or "warning".The only prior suggestion that something was amiss he said was the repeated postponement of the local party's annual general meeting - "allegedly due to concerns regarding the federation's accounts".Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Connor said: "I'm really not accusing him of taking the money. There was scrutiny of the officers by the executive. That's all gone. A small group have seized power without any scrutiny."I've been a party member for 19 years. During the general election, I walked over 50km while simultaneously running an early-stage business and caring for a toddler."I will remain a member, but frankly... I'm not sure I can continue giving up my own time to volunteer for the party in the way I have."
An email from party official Kathryn Cracknell said the decision to take over the federation was a "necessary step to stabilise operations, rebuild trust, and re-established effective campaigning and governance within the federation".But Mr Connor suspects there was a fear that the members could have restricted party funds for Aberconwy Tory MS and candidate for Bangor Conwy Môn Janet Finch Saunders, who Mr Gentry previously worked for as well as being chair of the Welsh Conservatives.Mr Connor says the fear was unfounded.He also said there had been tensions within the federation and across Wales over rules on sitting Senedd members and their selection for the new party list election system in 2026.The Tory party have made it easier for existing Senedd members to be reselected for the next vote in May 2026, allowing them to avoid a full party ballot of members.Opponents say it prevents new talent taking from taking part, while supporters have said it is in line with previous selection rules drawn up by the party at a UK level.Posing a hypothetical scenario of what the rules mean for new candidates, Mr Connor said that if sport star Gareth Bale "was a bit annoyed about driving his Range Rover in 20mph zones and wanted to stand for the Welsh Conservatives, at best he would be looking at second or third place on the list."In north west Wales, where Janet Finch Saunders has been reselected as the lead candidate for the Conservatives in Bangor Conwy Môn, some members would have preferred the selection for the seat to have been opened up to others."There's a sense that having someone from Llandudno might not resonate as well on people on the island [of Anglesey]," Mr Connor, who is a Conwy Valley member, said. "There's a way it felt it had been steamrolled."Another executive, Richard Jones, said the move over the federation was an "absolute betrayal" and a "affront to democracy".
BBC Wales put the points to Mr Gentry and the Conservative Party for comment.A Conservative party spokesman said: "All funds raised from the sale of the former Ynys Môn office have been properly accounted for and used in accordance with party rules."Decisions regarding the status of Associations are taken by the UK Party Board in accordance with the Party's constitution."As Nic Connor himself has said, 'no one believes there has been any foul play,' He is absolutely right."The spokesman added: "This was a decision of the UK board, not Bernard Gentry."
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