The 66-year-old originally agreed to replace Lee Strafford, who stepped down in May, on a short-term basis.

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John Strafford, chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy, said Mr Cameron was wrong to focus on candidates.

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He is now being held in the Strafford County, New Hampshire, jail.

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But John Strafford, who chairs the Campaign for Conservative Democracy group, said it was another "nail in the coffin for party membership and party democracy" and was "more interference from Conservative central office".

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But there was further criticism from within the Tory party, with John Strafford, of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy, saying Mr Ashcroft should resign as Tory treasurer when he becomes a peer to be replaced by an elected treasurer.

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Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford has made it clear that relegation is not a financial disaster for his club, but it is certainly a major frustration for the Owls, who looked likely to avoid the drop after an upturn in results followed the appointment of Alan Irvine in January.

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