TWO LONG-serving Tory politicians in Keighley have been rejected as candidates for the next Bradford Council election.

Glen Miller and Andrew Mallinson failed to win agreement from party bosses to stand in their existing wards for the election next spring.

Cllr Miller has represented Worth Valley ward, a Conservative stronghold, and Cllr Mallinson has represented Craven ward, both for about two decades.

Tory Party branches in their own wards each chose a different candidate, with the members’ proposals agreed this month by the executive committee of the Keighley and Ilkley Conservative Association.

Cllr Miller accepted the decision and this week told the Keighley News he would represent his constituents until next spring, before seeking “greener pastures”.

Cllr Mallinson appealed against the decision but Mike Ridgway, the Keighley Conservatives’ Deputy Chairman (Political), this week revealed that officials had dismissed the appeal.

Mr Ridgway said the constituency party had for the first carried out a new selection process introduced by the national party.

Members of ward branches were able to choose their own candidate, but if less than 15 members were present the proposal had to be moved up to constituency level for a final decision. This happened in both the Worth Valley and Craven wards.

Mr Ridgway said: “The process was followed and Andrew Mallinson and Glen Miller were not reselected. Both have been very active councillors over the years, and have been very good.”

Cllr Miller, who led the Conservative group on Bradford Council for several years, said he would represent his Worth Valley constituents until the 2018 election, and would continue as a party member.

He said the non-selection decision may have been influenced by objections he lodged earlier this year to the Keighley constituency party accepting former members of other political parties to help fight the Conservatives’ general election campaign.

Cllr Miller added: “My failure has come because I speak my mind and say the truth whatever people want to hear. I’ve also been struggling with things the Conservatives have been doing nationally.”

Cllr Mallinson, a long-time campaigner on regeneration, housing and transport issues, said he had believed he had “very good grounds” for appeal on matters concerning the selection process.

Silsden town councillor Rebecca Whitaker has been selected to stand for the Conservatives in Craven ward and well-known Keighley butcher Chris Herd will stand in the Worth Valley.

Bradford councillor Mike Gibbons, chairman of Keighley and Ilkley Constituency Conservative Party, said Councillors Mallinson and Miller had served the people of their ward.

He added: “It really is down to the local people and local party members wherever possible to make their choice who stands for election.””