Tory chair Ric Holden dodges questions in fiery interview

A Tory adviser intervened to stop an interview with party chairman Richard Holden when he refused to address questions about his controversial seat selection. Holden, who recently moved from North West Durham to Basildon and Billericay, faced criticism for being 'parachuted' into a safer seat. During the interview, Holden avoided discussing his candidacy row and instead criticized Labour's schools policy. The interviewer, Jon Craig, expressed frustration at Holden's evasiveness, leading to a tense exchange. The Conservative Party won Basildon and Billericay with a significant majority in the 2019 election, contrasting with Holden's narrow victory in his previous constituency. Despite repeated attempts to question the process behind his candidacy, Holden redirected the conversation to Labour's policies. The Labour Party accused Holden of dodging questions and criticized his move to a safer seat. The interview highlighted the ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party and the broader political landscape as parties vie for key constituencies.