They have not learned...

Conservatives nationally seem to have learned nothing from past attempts to encourage defection from other parties. They announced names in advance, thus giving the leadership of other parties warning of what they were up to.

Defectors from the conservatives, such as Shaun Woodward and Alan Howarth were sweet talked and encouraged secretly before the Conservative hierarchy was aware of it.

The conservatives have done it again, mentioning names of prominent Blairites. It may be unconnected, but one who was not mentioned, - Kate Hooey who has had problems with her party on a regular basis, pulled out of a Boris Johnson meeting, pleading sickness.

If contacts suggest that someone in another party is unhappy and might welcome a change, the mature and safe thing is to make contact with them quietly and secretly, and not blazon their names publicly.