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Longstanding GP representative exits BMA election after process ‘breach’

Longstanding GP representative exits BMA election after process ‘breach’

A longstanding member of the BMA’s GP Committee has withdrawn from the election of a Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire representative, after a process ‘breach’ was confirmed by the BMA.

The election was paused in the Spring, after GPs reported they received an unsolicited email from Derby and Derbyshire LMC’s office urging them to vote for incumbent representative Dr Peter Holden.

At the time, the BMA said it was looking into an ‘ongoing concern’. It has now said that ‘an investigation into a complaint relating to the election of a Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire representative for the GP Committee has now concluded’.

The investigation ‘found an email had been sent in error to GP practice administrators by an LMC without the agreement of the LMC officers and contrary to their own decision not to send emails supporting candidates in the BMA GPC election,’ the BMA said.

The spokesperson added: ‘Although the independent investigation determined that no individual should be referred to a BMA resolution panel, given the impact on the election the BMA also consulted its independent scrutineer for elections which advised that a breach of an election process had taken place. 

The candidate which the original complaint related to has since voluntarily withdrawn themselves from this election. The election will be rerun with the remaining two candidates in due course.’

Dr Holden declined to comment.