THE deep rift in the ranks of the Tories in Bromsgrove over the selection of candidates in the forthcoming local elections finally boiled over into the public arena this week.

Two leading, experienced district councillors, one of whom has represented his ward for 20 years, and who had hoped to stand again, have been dumped.

They are Richard Deeming, who has represented Cofton Hackett for 20 years, and Angela Hadley, of Stoney Hill.

Councillor Deeming, who currently chairs the authority's planning committee, failed in his bid to get nominated for the May 1 elections.

And Cllr Hadley, a councillor for four years and a former cabinet member responsible for housing who had hoped to contest the new Slideslow ward, has also been cast aside.

Hurt

"I'm deeply hurt and disappointed," she said.

These revelations, which party chiefs had preferred to keep low, follow hard on the news we revealed recently that another leading Tory, Cllr Jean Luck, had suffered a similar humiliation in her Alvechurch Ward.

The final list of candidates is expected in mid March.

Word from the council chamber is that the knives are out for some councillors who have crossed party chiefs in the past and who are now settling old scores by deselecting them or offering them unwinnable seats.

During his time as a councillor, Cllr Deeming has sat on various important committees and was council chairman in 1999-2000.

Disillusioned

A disillusioned Cllr Deeming said: "On behalf of myself and my family I am very, very disappointed not to have been selected this time.

"I am also very disappointed for the people of the old Cofton Hackett ward who will no longer have a Conservative candidate living in the ward to vote for."

Cllr Deeming has however, promised to make a comeback in the future and stressed he will remain on the parish council.

The Cofton seat will in future be known as Hillside. It will be contested on Saturday, May 1 by Cllr Ann Doyle who now represents Barnt Green, along with a newcomer named Brian Fuller.