BOLTON Tories in a constituency branded the party's "most sickly outpost" have called for John Major's replacement to give them more say.

Deflated Bolton Conservatives were bitterly disappointed when MPs blocked moves which would have allowed them a small vote in today's first-round Tory leadership election.

Now they warn that the party must change and include the grass roots members in future decisions if it is to revive Tory fortunes in "poor relation" constituencies locally.

The town which once boasted two Tory MPs was last week highlighted in a national survey claiming Conservative membership throughout the country has sunk to a record low.

The Times survey pinpointed Bolton West as one of the unhealthiest former Tory marginals in the country and claimed membership in the constituency had plummeted to below 400.

Bolton South East, with fewer than 10 members, was described as the "Central Office's most sickly outpost".

Dispirited worker Stella Jinks, who is set to resign from her catch-all position which keeps the South East constituency office ticking over at Little Lever Conservative Club, could not disagree.

"It is brutal and frank but unfortunately it is true," she said.

"The party must regroup and get its act together. You do not have to look further than the election result to see there have got to be be changes.

"It will take time but the grass roots would prefer to have a bigger say in who is at at the top. The people in the constituencies work hard so they should be given a say."

Mrs Jinks believes rich constituencies in the South need to nurture the grass roots in "poor relation" seats such as Bolton if the North is not to become a virtual Tory desert.

And she has no doubt how Bolton Conservatives should pick themselves up after the decimating election defeat.

"I believe the way forward locally is through getting people into the town hall. We must make inroads into the local council and stir up local issues. That will give people the confidence to believe we can do it nationally."

But that is a battle local Tories will have to fight alone - Mrs Jinks will be resting following her resignation and will not be standing as a councillor in the "foreseeable future".

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