DESPITE the general election result, 2009-10 was not a good year for the Conservatives in Bournemouth West.

The retiring MP was embroiled in the expenses scandal, pornography was found on the council leader’s laptop and a total of four Tory councillors – including the council leader and deputy leader – were under investigation.

Earlier this year, at the height of the crisis, there were even rumours Central Office would step in and take over the running of the beleaguered association.

Those outside the Conservative Party were baffled at the turn of events.

But now a document seen by the Daily Echo provides a glimpse into what was going on at that time.

The statement by John Major, chairman of Bournemouth West Conservative Association, was written six months ago to assist with the top-level investigation into Cllr Douglas Spencer’s conduct. In it, he describes the backlash created after Sir John Butterfill was featured in the Daily Telegraph’s expose of MPs’ expenses.

“He compounded the problem locally with a disastrous interview on Newsnight,” it states. “Sir John, on whips’ instructions, went to ground but the association office the following (day) was ‘doorstepped’ by the media, the office secretary was too intimidated to even answer the telephone and the office on two occasions had eggs thrown at it.

“Members and the public were contacting in the most hostile manner, members announced their resignations and some cancelled their cheques in response to the just launched Fighting Fund appeal.”

The statement also reflects on the lengthy, damaging row that followed the revelation that pornography had been discovered on Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin’s computer.

“Once in the public domain, this soon escalated from local news to national and even to Private Eye.

“Yet again I was dealing with outraged members and public. I took advice from the South West regional director who said that neither the association nor the party had powers to intervene; it was a matter for the council group.”

It said the issue frequently cropped up during general election canvassing and was a topic of conversation for members and residents. “I must therefore express my surprise at the speed of the Douglas Spencer suspension by Central Office, the details of which I know nothing about, compared to the inability to act on an issue that is still acting as a cancerous sore.”

When asked about the statement, Mr Major told the Echo: “Nobody could have anticipated what was to happen during that year to 18 months, it was a very difficult time.

“Our task was to keep the association as united as possible and I’m pleased to say membership is now increasing, we’re getting new people joining us and we’re going to have a fantastic team with some really exciting candidates next May.”