Tory aide ends Sky News interview as celebration chairman refuses to reply questions

The chairman of the Tory Party has abruptly ended an interview with Sky News after he refused to answer questions on his chicken run to a seat in the South.

Richard Holden was asked why he claimed to be “bloody loyal to the North East” before switching to a constituency in Essex. After repeatedly failing to answer the question, a Conservative press officer interrupted to say the interview would be terminated.

Mr Holden last week was imposed as the candidate for Basildon and Billericay as he struggled to find a new seat after his North West Durham constituency was abolished. He stonewalled questions on the move as he was interviewed on Sky News, as he instead tried to talk about Labour’s policy on private schools.

As Mr Holden refused to answer, reporter Jon Craig told him: “So you can’t justify the way you have been parachuted into Basildon and Billericay? You’re not denying it’s a stitch-up and it’s anti-democratic?”

But the politician said: “Emily Thornbury today has admitted…” An exasperated Mr Craig said: “Stop now, this is ridiculous. You said in an interview earlier this year you were bloody loyal to the North East. What happened to that?”

“Jon, I’ve already answered these questions,” Mr Holden said. “You haven’t, actually,” he hit back. A Tory press officer who was behind the camera could then be heard saying: “Well, if that’s where it is going to go, then we’ll just leave because that’s not what we agreed.”

In February Mr Holden, whose seat was wiped out by boundary changes, claimed to be “bloody loyal to the North East” during an interview with ITV News.