Tory aide stops Sky News interview after occasion chairman Richard Holden dodges questions | EUROtoday

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The Conservative Party chairman has been concerned in a conflict with a reporter as he tried to dodge questions earlier than an aide stepped in to finish the interview.

Richard Holden was being grilled by Sky News’s chief political Correspondent Jon Craig in Westminster on Sunday over the best way he was chosen as an electoral candidate for the Basildon and Billericay constituency on the final minute this week.

A bumbling Mr Holden repeatedly tries to keep away from answering immediately, however he’s pressed by Mr Craig over the accusations of a “stitch-up” – after which an off-camera CCHQ advisor interrupts to complain concerning the questions and terminate the interview.

In the clip shared on social media, Mr Craig begins by asking: “So you can’t justify the way you have been parachuted into Basildon and Billericay? You’re not deciding it’s a stitch-up and it’s anti-democratic?”

Mr Holden pauses earlier than replying with a deflection onto Labour: “Emily Thornberry today has admitted…”

He is lower off by the journalist saying: “I’m going to stop you now. This is ridiculous. This is ridiculous! You said in an interview earlier this year you were bloody loyal to the North East. What happened to that?”

The Tory press officer is now heard muttering “this wasn’t agreed” within the background.

Mr Holden insists, “I’ve already answered these questions,” referring to an interview Channel 4, a solution rejected by Mr Craig, who responds: “That’s one broadcaster isn’t it? This is a pool interview for all the other broadcasters.”

The unseen aide may be heard arguing: “These broadcasters agreed that the questions would be specifically…” earlier than Mr Craig throws again: “No, nobody agreed! I’ve got a list here of questions from other broadcasters. Nobody’s agreed, absolutely not.”

With a sheepish Mr Holden nonetheless within the digicam shot, the advisor then asserts: “If that’s the way this is going to go, then we will just leave, because that’s not what we agreed to come here today to discuss.”

A Labour supply instructed HuffPost: “The Conservatives have spent another day in total chaos – running and ducking from scrutiny. They know their desperate, scattergun plans don’t stack up and think they can take the public for fools.”