They've Made a Monkey Out of Themselves, Again

Possibly only too aware of the absolute kicking they got in the by-election last year, the beleagured Tories in Hartlepool have decided not to field a candidate against the incumbent 'Monkey Mayor' in the forthcoming mayoral election on May 5th, according to the Hartlepool Mail. Apparently, this failure to stand in the election is concerned with the party's opposition to the mayoral system and absolutely nothing else:

"We do not want a mayor system but believe that if we have to have one it should be one that is not connected to any political party."

The only way to prove our stance is not to nominate a candidate."

But don't expect to read anything about their principled stance on their website.