An interesting sidelight into the attitude of the Conservative Party to democracy. Nick Hillman, the Tory candidate in Cambridge, revealed at the POWER2010 and local democracy club hustings last night (read the write up here) he and other candidates had been instructed not to attend POWER2010 meetings. I have disobeyed the mandate, he said, using it as a sign that he would be an independent-minded MP if elected.  A good democrat then, in stark contrast to his party.