Friday, April 17, 2026

Is the Conservative Party Dead?

John Strafford

The Conservative Party is about to launch a new Constitution on 1^st January 2027. As yet we have not seen the final draft of the rule book that goes with it or Phase 5 of the consultation with members. What is abundantly clear so far is that if the present proposals all go through the Conservative Party as a members organization is finished. The Party will be run and dominated by the large donors. Inevitably this will lead to the gradual decline of the Conservative Party as a political organization. How has this happened?

Pre 1998 The Conservative Party had three separate autonomous elements to it. They were The Parliamentary Party, the Leader's office at CCHQ and the National Union, (the Constituency Associations). Because they were autonomous they had to work together by trusting each other!

Selection of Candidates was wholly in the hands of the Constituency Associations. CCHQ could advise but the final decision was with the Associations.

Policy was decided by the Leader, but a good Leader would take account of the views of the Constituency Associations before taking a decision on policy. If the Constituency Associations were consulted before the decision was made they would follow the Leader whatever the decision was.

CCHQ was the servant of the Leader primarily but also the servant of the Constituency Associations. For example the Party Conference was organized and controlled by the Voluntary Party (National Union) assisted by CCHQ. The MPS and CCHQ were invited to it by the National Union. There were motions for debate, some of which were balloted for by the voluntary Party.

The Parliamentary Party would follow the policies decided by the Leader. If he or she disagreed with them they had to ensure that they had the support of their Constituency Association which had the power to deselect the MP.

The whole Party organization was based on trust!

All this changed after 1998 when the new Constitution was introduced, and from that moment CCHQ took total control.

They took over the Selection of Candidates imposing their own list on Constituency Associations. That list over the last twenty years became totally adrift from the voluntary Party. Instead of Candidates with genuine Conservative values we got Lib/Dem inclined people, careerists who were in politics for the money because they could not get a job elsewhere. They could and did on occasion remove the Whip from an MP preventing him or her from standing for reelection even where the MP had the support of his/her Constituency Association, as happened with Howard Flight.

They took over control of the Party Conference and turned into a Public Relations exercise. Motions were dropped so members had no voice!

The Conservative Political Centre, which had a National Committee elected by the members was scrapped and a new CPF with appointed officers replaced it.

Those running the Party are unaccountable to the Party members.

Effectively the Party has been taken over by the big donors! CCHQ gets 75% of its income from 10 donors! As long as CCHQ continue to get the money in they will continue to treat the voluntary Party with contempt. I was told by a former Director of CCHQ that the Party did not want members. They would like to be like the Republican Party of the USA which is not a membership organisation. I pointed out that in the USA they pay activists vast amounts of money to run their elections!

The Establishment of the Party has decided to run the Party like a business. Trust has broken down because whereas in a business you can control people by fear(do it or lose your job) or by incentive (do it and you get a pay rise) but the voluntary Party is based on volunteers. It is not a business. With volunteers if you place too many onerous conditions on them they just say “I have had enough of this” and walk away. Trust has been lost. That is what has happened with the membership. Constituency Associations are having difficulty in getting people to stand as officers because they now have to submit to huge amounts of bureaucracy.

Parliamentary Candidates and local Government candidates will stop coming forward because of all the restrictions on them and the costs of paying for training etc. Having put themselves forward to be a Parliamentary Candidate a small group of unelected people will decide whether or not you meet their criteria. No Thanks!

The voluntary Party now mainly comprises of Councillors and their families and it looks like many of them will lose their seats in the coming elections.

Does this all matter? General Elections are basically won based on the policies put forward by a political Party, but in the marginal seats where the margin is below 3% what counts are feet on the ground. Kemi Badenoch is starting to bring forward Conservative policies, so if this continues there is a good chance the Party will hold on to the seats which it presently holds. However to win more seats it has to win in the marginals. To Win a General Election on the ground you need 500,000 members of which 10-15% are active. You need members to man the polling stations, get the vote out, distribute your literature, man the committee rooms etc. Tory Party membership has sunk to approx.100,000 and is sinking. The last National membership drive was the Bulldog campaign in 1988. Reform has understood the necessity of membership having built up their membership to 280,000 in just over a year. In my own constituency of Beaconsfield Reform have had three training meetings in one week! No wonder they now have more members than the Conservatives. Unless the Party gives more rights to members and more incentives to join the Party I am afraid the Party is heading for disaster. Processes for selecting Council Candidates or Parliamentary Candidates are important but if you do not have any applicants they become meaningless!

Can the Conservative Party once again embrace Trust? Yes, if it moves back to the situation pre 1998 where the whole Party organization was based on trust. If it doesn’t it will slowly fade away and as it does so the big donors will stop making their gifts to the Party as soon as they think it no longer has a chance of forming a government!

Conservatives, the choice is yours. The Party is not yet dead but it is dying!

To revive it and start to build back membership it needs to do the following:

The Seven Steps to Reform

1) The Chairman of the Party Board, Two Deputy Chairmen, Treasurer, Chairman of the Candidates Committee and Chairman of the Policy Forum to be officers of the Party on the Party Board, elected by and accountable to Party Members, and to present Annual Reports to an Annual General Meeting to which all Party members are invited.

The Accounts of the Party to be adopted at the Annual General Meeting.

The clause in the Party Constitution (Article 17) which gives power to the Party Board “to do anything which in its opinion relates to the management and administration of the Party” to be deleted. The Party Board to have a majority of voluntary Party members.

This is to ensure that those in control of the Party’s organisation are accountable to the Members of the Party. The Party Board to have a majority of Members elected by Party Members. Article 17 of the Constitution as it stands makes the rest of the Constitution irrelevant. In an emergency the Board may respond but any action taken should be ratified by the Members at the following General Meeting.

2) The Party Constitution should be capable of being changed by a motion at the Annual General Meeting of the Party, by Party members on the basis of One Member One Vote with a 60% majority of those voting.

At present there are parts of the Constitution which get changed without the members having any say and have no knowledge until the change is published. For example the Rules on the Selection of Candidates are changed almost every year by the Candidates Committee and members have no say in these changes. Similarly the 1922 Committee can change the Rules for the Leadership election without the members knowing until the change is published as a fait accompli. Sub Committees of the Party Board or indeed the Party Board itself should not be allowed to change the Constitution. They can make recommendations but it is up to the members of the Party to agree rule changes.

3) Constituency Associations should have the right to determine who their Conservative Parliamentary Candidate is, with minimum interference by CCHQ. This includes both selecting and deselecting candidates and selecting or deselecting their Member of Parliament Any member of the Party should be able to apply to be the candidate. Local candidates i.e., those resident in the Constituency, should be invited for interview by the Executive Council.

Where a Constituency Association passes a motion of no confidence in their MP in General Meeting they should be able to immediately start the process of selecting a new parliamentary candidate.

CCHQ would have an advisory role for the conduct of due diligence which must be carried out before the Candidate is finally elected. There would be safeguards for Constituencies where their membership is below 150 members. This restores the autonomy of Constituency Associations and is back to the situation prior to 1998 when the new Constitution was implemented.

.4) The Spring Conference should be a policy conference where Ministers would listen to members ideas on policies in their subject area selected by motions submitted through the Executive Council of local associations.

This Conference is not to determine the policy of the Party but to demonstrate the views of the Party membership to the Leader.

5) The Party Conference should be controlled by a subcommittee of the Party Board consisting of a majority of voluntary members of the Party. There should be motions for debate and votes taken on those motions.

The motions submitted by the local associations through their Executive Councils should be printed on the Party web site at the time the Agenda for the Party Conference is published. Pre 1998 the Party Conference was run and controlled by the voluntary Party. This change reverts back to that position.

6) The Rules for the Election of the Party Leader to be incorporated within the main body of the Constitution.

At present the Rules for the election of the Party Leader are controlled by the 1922 Committee which can and does change them without any reference to Party members. For example in 2016 only a Proposer and Seconder were required for an MP to put his name forward as a candidate. In 2019 this changed to eight Nominations required. In 2022 20 nominations were required. In late 2022 100 nominations required

7) The Party Constitution should be a democratic Constitution with the emphasis on directly involving members of the Party on the basis of One Member One Vote.

There are many areas of the Constitution that require reform. For example: Regional/Area Officers should be elected by and accountable to the members of the Region/Area at an Annual General Meeting of the Region/Area to which all members residing in the Region/Area are invited.

The Rules of Local Associations need reform particularly relating to the suspension of members and the selection of local government candidates. Is there a conflict between Councillors who are the local political voice of an Association also being Constituency Chairmen responsible for the organisation in the Constituency?

Objects and values of the Conservative Party should be included as an appendix to the Constitution. At present they are called for but nowhere defined.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

A Democratic Constitution or continue the Oligarchy?

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (9) updated 10th April 2026

Review of the Conservative Party Constitution - Phase 4

Document sent to Party members by the Chairman of the National Convention, Julian Ellacott 19 March 2026

Constitutional Review Discussion Paper

Phase 4 – Q1 2026

This Phase covers the following topics:

· Part VI – Area Councils, Area Management Executives and Regional Officers

· Schedule 5 – Area Councils, Area Management Executives and Regional Officers

· Part V – The National Conservative Convention

· Schedule 3 – The National Conservative Convention

· Schedule 8 – The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party and the Welsh Conservative Party.

The proposed changes in this Phase get to the heart of whether the Conservative Party wishes to be a democratic organization where ultimately ordinary Party members are in control with those running the Party are accountable to the members or whether it wants to continue as an Oligarchy controlled by the Party Board and CCHQ.

If the proposed changes are implemented I have no doubt that as a membership organization the Conservative Party will cease to exist. What rights does the ordinary Party member have?

He or she elects the Chairman of their Constituency Association.

That Chairman then sits on the Area Council.

The Area Council elects the Area Executive.

The Area Council elects the Regional Officers.

The Chairman, the Area Executive and the Regional Officers are members of the National Convention.

The National Convention elects four members of the Party Board.

So the ordinary member having voted once all the rest follows so the only person accountable to the ordinary member is his or her Constituency Chairman.

This is called Pyramid Democracy, a system which was made illegal in the Trade Unions by Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s on the grounds that it led to corruption and manipulation of the Ballot. I wonder what Margaret Thatcher would say today if she was told that it is this very same system of Pyramid Democracy which the Conservative Party is using in its own organization.

I publish below the above Parts and Schedules of what a democratic Party Constitution should look like, and in the next few days will compare this democratic Constitution with the proposed changes to the Party’s existing Constitution.

You can then be the judge and decide whether you want the existing Oligarchic Constitution to continue or a democratic Constitution!

PART VI

AREA COUNCILS, AREA MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES AND REGIONAL OFFICERS

26 There shall be established and maintained in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a number of Area Councils, the composition and precise number of which shall be determined from time to time by the Board, whose decision shall be final and binding.

Areas should be based broadly on counties

27 The Board shall undertake a specific review of boundaries following the redistribution of Parliamentary boundaries and shall consider undertaking such a review following

27.1 a unanimous request from an Area Management Executive and Regional Chairman within an Area; or

27.2 a request from not less than 60% of Association Chairmen within an Area; or

27.3 a request from the Executive Council of any Association which is affected by a boundary change.

28 Each Area Council shall comprise

28.1 The members of the Party resident within the Area.

|Proposed Constitution:

28.1 The Chairman of each Association within the Area of the Area Council to which it belongs. In respect of Constituencies which have joined together as a Federation or other grouping of pursuant to the provisions of Article 44 below, then the representation pursuant to this Article shall be the Chairman of the Federation or other grouping and the “Constituency Officers” of that body.

If the Party wishes to be democratic then all the members of the Area should be members of the Area Council as used to be the case.

28.2 The elected members of the Area Management Executive, who must be resident within the Area.

Area Management Executive

29 Each Area Council shall meet twice a year, one of which meetings shall be the Annual Meeting of the Area Council at which the election of the Area Management Executive takes place.(in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5). The Area Management Executive shall act as a co-ordinating body between the Board and Associations with a view to enhancing the performance of Associations in each Area and co-ordinating activities and the efficient management of resources within each Area.

Proposed question:

29 Should the Area Officers be elected directly by members in the Area, to improve participation/activity/visibility/ accountability?

YES

30 Each Area Management Executive shall consist of

30.1 a Chairman (“the Area Chairman”); elected by the members resident in the Area at the Annual Meeting of the Area Council.

30.2 two Deputy Chairmen, elected by the members resident in the Area at the Annual Meeting of the Area Council.

30.2.1One of whom shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation and development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning, in the Area (“the Political Deputy Chairman”); and

30.2.2One of whom shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within the Area (“the Membership Deputy Chairman”);

30.3 up to two further Officers who may, from time to time, be co-opted by the Area Management Executive.

30.4 A Treasurer elected by the members resident in the Area at the Annual Meeting of the Area Council who shall be responsible for the finances of the Area Council and Executive.

Proposed Constitution:

30 Each Area Management Executive shall consist of 30.1 a Chairman (“the Area Chairman”); 30.2 two Deputy Chairmen 30.2.1 One of whom shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation and development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning, in the Area (“the Political Deputy Chairman”); and 30.2.2 One of whom shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within the Area (“the Membership Deputy Chairman”); 30.3 up to two further Officers who may, from time to time, be co-opted by the Area Management Executive.

The Area officers should be elected by the members of the Area at an AGM to which all members are invited.

31 In Areas comprising more than twelve constituencies, Area Councils shall elect to the Area Management Executive, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5, one additional Officer for every additional six constituencies or part thereof.

32 It shall be the function of each Area Management Executive to co-ordinate Associations and take

initiatives in respect of

32.1 sharing of resources between Associations and Council Groups.

32.2 the finance and membership of Associations;

32.3 the motivation and monitoring of the performance of Associations and Council Groups, taking steps to resolve conflicts however the Area Management Executive sees fit.

32.4 the management and training of Officers of Associations;

32.5 campaigning and Conservative representation in National, and Local Government elections;

32.6 matters relating to Local Government and Councillors.

32.7 assisting elected representatives and the professional staff with the co-ordination of local media relations;

a. resolving disputes within Associations and Branches thereof, including the investigation of breaches of Rules of Associations;

b. the provision of assistance to, and the undertaking of activities within a Supported Association;

c. preparing and submitting to the Board an annual report on the activities of each Association within the Area.

33 If the Board decides that an Area Management Executive is failing to fulfil its functions, the Board (or its representative) may meet the Area Management Executive and impose an Action Plan which the Area Management Executive shall be required to meet within a given time scale.

34 The Board may appoint a representative to monitor the performance of the Area Management Executive in respect of the Action Plan. If, upon receipt of a report from the Board’s representative, the Board forms the opinion that an Area Management Executive has taken insufficient remedial action or otherwise failed to comply with the requirements of the Action Plan, the Board shall afford the Area Management Executive an opportunity of making representations to it.

Proiposed Constitution:

The Board should not have the power to remove an officer of the Area. That decision should be made by the members of the Area Council in General meeting.

Regional Council

35 The Board shall establish throughout England, by dividing into regions, a regional structure. Thereafter the Board may from time to time amend the said regional structure to take account of any change in circumstances.

36 The Annual Meeting of the Regional Council shall be held each year at such time and place as the Officers of the Region shall appoint, and the procedure for summoning such meeting shall be as follows:

Preliminary Notice

37 A preliminary notice shall be sent to every member of the Party resident in the Region not later than fifty-six clear days before the date appointed to such meeting.

The Business of the Annual Meeting shall include:

38 (a) To elect the officers of the Region

(b) To receive the Annual Report presented by the Chairman of the Region.

Notice of Special Business

39 Notice of any special business for inclusion in the Agenda shall be sent so as to reach the Secretary not later than forty-two days before the date of the meeting. This shall be submitted in the form of a Notice of Motion provided it has first received the endorsement of the Executive Council of a Constituency Association and authority has been given for it to be moved at the meeting by a representative nominated for that purpose.

Notice of Motion

40 A notice of motion may also be submitted by the Officers of the Region.

The Officers shall decide and arrange the order of business to be brought before a meeting of The Council.

Agenda

41 Fourteen clear days before the date appointed for the meeting, the Secretary shall email to members of the Council an agenda paper.

Special Meetings

42 The Officers may and if required by not less than fifty members of the Council shall forthwith summon a Special Meeting of the Council. Fourteen clear days notice, at least shall be given of any such notice. No business other than that specified in the notice convening the meeting shall be transacted at such meeting.

43 Four Regional Officers shall be elected in each Region, one of whom shall be elected as Regional Chairman. Two elected Regional Officers in the Region will be Deputy Regional Chairmen. One elected Regional Officer will be Treasurer.

43.1 One Deputy Chairman shall have particular responsibility for assisting Area Deputy Chairmen, where requested, with coordinating the formulation and development of political campaigning, in the Region (“the Political Deputy Chairman”); and

43.2 One Deputy Chairman shall have particular responsibility for assisting Deputy Chairmen, where requested, with fund-raising and membership within the Region (“the Membership Deputy Chairman”); No Regional Officer shall hold the same office for more than five consecutive years.

43.3 The Treasurer will be responsible for the funds of the Region.

44 The Regional Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Region in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5, by those Party members resident in the Region

Proposed Constitution:

The Regional Chairman will, at least 4 times per year, convene and chair a Regional Board, comprising the Regional Officers, the Area Chairman, Chairmen of Regional branches of any Recognised Organisations active within the Region, senior Party staff, a representative of the Chairman of the National Convention, and others at the invitation of the Regional Chairman or direction of the Board. The purpose of the Regional Boards shall be to oversee and co-ordinate the activities of the Region and its Areas.

The Regions should be set up as democratic bodies with every member resident in the Region being entitled to attend an Annual General Meeting at which the officers are elected as set out in the proposals above. This used to be the case and was very valuable because it meant that members could meet members from other constituencies and exchange successes and failures in their activities. It was also helpful in arranging mutual aid.

45 The Regional Officers shall be responsible for

45.1 co-ordinating campaigning and political activities which cross Area boundaries;

45.2 assisting Area Management Executives in the organisation of activities which cross Area boundaries;

45.3 co-ordinating campaign activity for Local Government elections where local authority boundaries cross Area boundaries;

45.4 ensuring the strategy of the Board in relation to Parliamentary boundary changes is implemented;

45.5 when so requested by the Board, providing assistance in the event of performance failings by Area Management Executives.

45.6 when so requested by the Board, providing assistance in the establishment of fair disciplinary processes and dispute resolution within the Region.

45.7 promoting liaison between the Area Officers within the Region.

45.8 introducing and promoting initiatives across the Region in any matters as requested by the Board from time to time.

45.9 to administer the funds of the Region.

45.10appoint the Secretary of the Region responsible for the administration of the Region.

Schedule 5

AREA COUNCILS, AREA MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES, AND REGIONAL OFFICERS.

There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Area Council for each Area which shall be held between 30 June and 30 September, the date to be decided by the Area Management Executive.

1 The Area Chairman shall give not less than 21 days clear notice of the Annual Meeting of the Area Council to every member of the Party resident within the Area. The Agent or Organising Secretary of each Association within the Area of the Area Council, shall also receive notice and be entitled to attend in a non-voting capacity.

Proposed Constitution:

The Regional Chairman (or their nominated Deputy) shall give not less than 28 days clear notice of the annual meeting of the Area Council to every member of the Area Council. Notice shall also be sent to each Association within the Area of the Area Council, and any locally employed staff shall be entitled to attend in a non-voting capacity.

Every member of the Party should be a member of the Area Council. Agree that the notice period should be 21 days

2 In such notice the Area Chairman shall invite nominations for election to the elected posts to the Area Management Executive and the notice shall state the address to which nominations shall be sent, to be received not later than seven clear days before the date of the meeting.

3 Any member of an Association within an Area may stand for election within that Area to the Area Management Executive provided they are proposed and seconded by members resident within the Area in which they are standing for election.

4 The election shall take place at the meeting of the Area Council. The election shall be by secret ballot. The Returning Officer shall be a member of the professional staff of the Party, nominated for the purpose by the Board.

Proposed Constitution:

The election shall be by secret ballot. The Returning Officer shall be the Regional Chairman (or their nominated Deputy).

No, The Returning Officer should be a member of the professional staff so there is no conflict of interest.

5 Candidates may stand for the posts of

1.1 Chairman;

1.2 Deputy Chairman – Political and Campaigning

1.3 Deputy Chairman – Membership and Fund Raising;

1.4 Treasurer

1.5 If applicable the post of additional Officer(s), and the Candidate with the most votes for the respective post shall be duly elected for that post for the following year with immediate effect.

6 No one may hold the same office as an Officer of the Area Management Executive (whether in an elected or co-opted position) for more than five consecutive years.

Proposed Constitution:

7 No one may hold the same office as an Officer of the Area Management Executive (whether in an elected or co-opted position) for more than three consecutive years.

It should be five years to be consistent.

7 If a member of the Area Management Executive ceases to hold office, for whatever reason, the vacancy shall be filled by co-option by the remaining members of the Area Management Executive until the next Annual meeting of the Area Council. Such co-option must be duly reported to a member of the professional staff of the Party before it can take effect.

Proposed Constitution:

8 If a member of the Area Management Executive ceases to hold office, for whatever reason, the vacancy shall be filled by co-option by the remaining members of the Area Management Executive until the next Annual meeting of the Area Council. Such co-option must be duly reported to a member of the professional staff of the Party before it can take effect. Alternatively, should the Board so direct, the vacancy shall be filled by ballot under the direction of a person appointed by the Board.

A ballot of all the members would be expensive and it is normal in these situations for a co-option to be made .

Regional Officers

8 The Regional Chairman of each Region established shall give notice to every member resident within the Region and the Secretary or Agent of every Association within the Region of the annual election of the Regional Officers. The notice shall also state

8.1 the date by which nominations for election to the post of Regional Officer must be returned;

8.2 the address to which nominations shall be sent;

8.3 the date by which ballot papers shall be returned or online votes cast.

Proposed Constitution;

A National Convention Officer, nominated by the Chairman of National Convention, shall give notice to every member of an Area Council within the Region and the Secretary or Agent of every Association within the Region of the annual election of the Regional Officers. The notice shall also state 10.1 the date by which nominations for election to the post of Regional Officer must be returned; 10.2 the address to which nominations shall be sent; 10.3 the date by which ballot papers shall be returned or online votes cast.

Notice should be given to every member of the Party resident within the Region so that they can attend an Annual General Meeting. Similar to what used to happen.

9 Ballot papers shall be dispatched within 14 days of the close of nominations and the ballot shall close 14 days after the dispatch of the ballot papers. If an online ballot is to be held then this timetable shall apply to the opening and closing of that ballot.

Proposed Constitution:

If an online ballot is to be held then the opening and closing of that ballot shall take place 7 days apart.

Agreed

10 Any Party Member may stand for election as a Regional Officer in the Region in which they are resident.

The election of Regional officers shall take place by secret ballot of all members resident within the Region. The Returning Officer shall be a member of the professional staff of the Party, nominated for the purpose by the Board.

Proposed Constitution:

Any Party Member may stand for election as a Regional Officer in the Region in which they are a Party Member provided that their nomination is supported by the resolution of at least one Area Management Executive in the Region in which they are standing for election.

Any member should be allowed to stand without any restrictions and the ballot should be of all members living within the Region. The returning officer should be a member of the professional staff of the Party.

10 Candidates shall stand for the posts of either

11.1 Regional Chairman;

11.2 Deputy Chairman – Political and Campaigning

11.3 Deputy Chairman – Membership and Fund Raising.

11.3 Treasurer

The Candidate with the most votes for the respective post shall be duly elected for that post for the following year with immediate effect. A candidate shall not stand for more than one of these posts.

PART V

THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION

20 There shall be established and maintained The National Conservative Convention which shall consist of

20.1 the Chairmen of each Association within England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland two Deputy Chairmen and Treasurer elected by the members of the Association at a General meeting of the Association.

Proposed Constitution:

20 There shall be established and maintained The National Conservative Convention which shall consist of 20.1 the Chairmen of each Association within England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland or a Deputy Chairman nominated as a substitute by the Association at a meeting of the Executive Council of the Association. In respect of Constituencies which have joined together as a Federation or other groupings of Constituency Associations pursuant to the provisions of Article 44 below, then the representation should be the Chairman of that Federation or Grouping and the elected constituency officers of the Federation or Gouping

As presently set up the National Convention is too small to be representative of the voluntary Party and too big to be an executive body. I have set out above that the Convention be increased in size by having four members from each Constituency Association making it a representative body similar to the Central Council used to be pre 1998.

The alternative is to reduce the size of the body to approximately 100+. This could be achieved by each Region electing 10 members to the Convention at an Annual General Meeting of the Region to which all members resident in the Region are invited to attend and vote. This would make it similar to the old National Union Executive Committee.

20.2 the elected representatives on the Board; and the elected members of the Scottish Management Board of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party; and

20.3 the elected members of the Board of the Welsh Conservative Party; and

20.4 all members of the Area Management Executives as elected in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 and their equivalent in Scotland; and

20.5 all Regional Chairmen and Deputy Regional Chairmen as elected in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5; and

20.6 such further representation from each Recognised Organisation, Specialist Group, or Other Body as the Board shall from time to time determine, having regard to the membership of the individual Recognised Organisation, Specialist Group or Other Body (not exceeding 100 such representatives for all Recognised Organisations, Specialist Groups or Other Bodies), who shall be elected by the members of each Recognised Organisation Specialist Group or Other Body in accordance with their respective constitutions; and

20.7 the three past Presidents of the National Conservative Convention; and

20.8 the two immediate past Chairmen of the National Conservative Convention;

21 The National Conservative Convention shall elect, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3, a Chairman of the Convention whose responsibility it shall be to ensure that the Convention discharges its functions as set out in Article 24 below. The Chairman of the Convention shall, ex-officio, be a Deputy Chairman of the Board.

22 The National Conservative Convention shall elect, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3, a President of the Convention, and who shall be a member of the Board and who shall be known as “President”.

23 The National Conservative Convention shall also elect three further Officers, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3, who shall be members of the Board and shall serve as Vice-Presidents of the National Conservative Convention.

24 The functions of the National Conservative Convention shall be to

24.1 support and promote the objects and values of the Party;

24.2 elect representatives to the Board;

24.3 oversee and receive reports from the Board, the Officers of the Regional Councils, the Area Management Executives and Recognised Organisations;

24.4 provide a focus for views of Party Members and act as a link between the Party Leader and Party Members;

24.5 keep under review, and from time to time propose, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 9, amendments to this Constitution;

24.6 recommend to the Board action that ensures the maintenance of an effective organisation throughout the Country.

25 The National Conservative Convention shall meet at least twice annually. The Leader and the Board shall be invited to attend its meetings.

Schedule 3

THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION

1 A meeting of the National Conservative Convention (“the National Convention”) shall take place at least twice annually, and arrangements for such meetings shall be organised and administered by the elected officers of the National Conservative Convention.

2 At the Annual Meeting of the National Convention not less than 42 days prior to the close of ballot, the Secretary of the National Convention shall write to all members of the National Convention

2.1 Inviting nominations from the members of the National Convention for election of the President & Conference Chairman and Chairman of the National Convention and three Vice Presidents to the Board and stating the timetable for the election of these officers

2.2 Stating the date by which nominations must be returned, being not less than 14 clear days from the date of the Notice.

2.3 Stating the address to which the nominations must be returned.

2.4 Stating the date by which ballot papers must be returned or online votes cast, being not less than 14 clear days from the publication of the nominations received and the opening of the ballot. The election to be concluded by 31 July each year.

3 Only those members of the National Convention notified to the Secretary of the National Convention not less than 28 days prior to the close of the ballot shall be entitled to vote.

4 Any nomination for any such office or post referred to in Paragraph 2.1 herein must be submitted, signed by not less than twelve members of the National Convention, of whom eight must be Chairmen of Associations, or Constituency Officers, together with a signed letter from the nominee accepting nomination. It is acceptable for scanned copies of these documents to be sent to the Secretary by email.

5 Any nominee for any such office or post referred to in Paragraph 2.1 herein shall have been a Member of the National Convention for not less than the one year preceding the date of close of nominations.

6 No member of the National Convention may hold office

6.1 as one of the elected representatives of the National Convention (other than as President or Chairman) for more than five consecutive years;

6.2 as Chairman of the National Convention for more than five consecutive years;

6.3 as President for more than one year.

7. At the National Convention Annual Meeting, the National Convention shall receive, prior to elections, reports from the elected Officers of the National Convention, such Area Management Executives and Recognised Organisations as the National Convention shall determine. The National Convention shall also consider any proposed changes to this Constitution in accordance with such procedure as the National Convention shall determine.

8 The Secretary of the National Convention shall act as Chief Returning Officer in any election at any meeting of the National Convention.

9 Each member of the National Convention shall have one vote only notwithstanding that that member’s right to attend the National Convention derives from holding more than one office or post.

10 Elections shall be held by online secret ballot. The Secretary of the National Conservative Convention shall provide for voting to take place by post in respect of any member for whom there is no recorded email address.

11 Upon a petition signed by not less than fifty Association Chairmen (or Constituency Officers in the case of multi-constituency Associations) to the Secretary of the National Convention, the Chairman of the National Convention shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the National Convention.

12 The Secretary of the National Convention shall give not less than 28 clear days notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting in writing to all members of the National Convention, together with an Agenda for the meeting.

13 Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the Board shall be advised of the rules governing the conduct of the National Convention elections and rules of Procedure to be adopted at the National Convention.

Generally Schedule 3 as proposed is acceptable.

Schedule 8

THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY, THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE PARTY & THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Include Northern Ireland in this Schedule. It has a separate Assembly and should be treated in a similar way to Scotland and Wales

THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY

1 Scottish Party Members are bound by the provisions of the Constitution of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (“SCUP”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained within this Constitution, the SCUP and Scottish Party Members shall therefore have only the following rights and obligations with respect to the Party within this Constitution:

1.1 The election of the Leader in accordance with the provisions of Part III and Schedule 2 of this Constitution;

1.2 Participation in the National Conservative Convention in accordance with the provisions of Part V and Schedule 3 of this Constitution;

1.3 Participation in Party Conferences in accordance with the provisions of Part X and Schedule 4 of this Constitution;

1.4 The maintenance of an Association in every Parliamentary Constituency in Scotland;

2 In addition, in relation to matters relating to Ethics and Integrity, the Ethics and Integrity Committee shall assume, in relation to the conduct of any Scottish Party Member who is a Member of Parliament or an adopted Parliamentary Candidate the same powers and responsibilities as are contained in Part XII, subject to the following additional provisions:

2.1 The Ethics and Integrity Committee shall investigate any matter referred to it by the Scottish Executive;

2.2 The Honorary Secretary of SCUP or their nominee shall be a member of the Ethnics and Integrity

Committee for the purposes of those cases in which the Ethics and Integrity

Committee is investigating the conduct of any Scottish Party Member who is a Member of Parliament or an adopted Parliamentary Candidate.

2.3 The Ethics and Integrity Committee shall conclude its determination by reporting, in writing, to the Scottish Executive stating what action, if any, is required.

2.4 Thereafter, the SCUP shall implement any action which the Ethics and Integrity Committee has determined, which action shall be unlimited.

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE PARTY

3 There shall be established and maintained in Wales The Welsh Conservative Party which shall be managed by a Board (known as “The Board for Wales”) consisting of:

3.1 A Chairman, to be known as “The Chairman of the Welsh Conservative Party”,

3.2 A Treasurer who shall have responsibility for the funds of the Welsh Conservative Party.

3.3 Two Deputy Chairmen

3.3.1 One of whom shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation and development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning in the Principality (‘the Political Deputy Chairman’) and;

3.3.2 One of whom shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within the Principality (‘the Membership Deputy Chairman’);

3.4 The Area Chairmen in Wales

3.5 The Conservative Leader in the Welsh Assembly

3.6 The Chairman of the Welsh Local Government Committee

3.7 The Director for Wales (in a non-voting capacity).

3.8 The Secretary of State for Wales or Cabinet Member responsible for Wales or when in opposition the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales or the Shadow Cabinet Member responsible for Wales.

4. The Chairman, Treasurer and Deputy Chairmen of the Welsh Conservative Party shall be nominated for election and elected by members of the Party residing in Wales and may not hold the same post for more than five consecutive years.

Proposed Constitution:

4. The Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of the Welsh Conservative Party shall be nominated for election and elected by members of Area Councils in Wales and may not hold the same post for more than three consecutive years.

The Chairman, Treasurer and Deputy Chairmen of the Welsh Conservative Party shall be nominated for election and elected by members of the Party residing in Wales and may not hold the same post for more than five consecutive years. That is democracy!

Proposed Constitution:

5.Rules governing the management of and elections within the Welsh Conservative Party shall be submitted to and approved by the Board, and thereafter any amendment to the said rules shall take place only with the approval of the Board. Such rules shall be consistent with this Constitution.

5. Rules governing the management of and elections within the Welsh Conservative Party shall be submitted to and approved by the Party members residing in Wales thereafter any amendment to the said rules shall take place only with the approval of the Party members residing in Wales. Such rules shall be consistent with this Constitution.

Why should the Board determine the Constitution. In democratic organisation it should be the members who determine the Constitution.

The Following is an addition to the Party Constitution. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and its status should reflect that. For many years Northern Ireland has been neglected by the Party. That is wrong. I recognise that at present there are few members in Northern Ireland but that should give us every reason to treat it in similar way to the rest of the United Kingdom so that full membership can be built up.

THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONSERVATIVE PARTY

6 There shall be established and maintained in Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Conservative Party which shall be managed by a Board (known as “The Board for Northern Ireland”) consisting of:

6.1 A Chairman, to be known as “The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Conservative Party”,

6.2 A Treasurer who shall have responsibility for the funds of the Northern Ireland Conservative Party.

6.3 Two Deputy Chairmen

6.3.1One of whom shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation and development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning in Northern Ireland (‘the Political Deputy Chairman’) and;

6.3.2One of whom shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within Northern Ireland (‘the Membership Deputy Chairman’);

6.4 The Conservative Leader in the Northern Ireland Assembly

6.5 The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Local Government Committee

6.6 The Director for Northern Ireland (in a non-voting capacity).

6.7 The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or Cabinet Member responsible for Northern Ireland or when in opposition the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or the Shadow Cabinet Member responsible for Northern Ireland.

7. The Chairman, Treasurer and Deputy Chairmen of the Northern Ireland Conservative Party shall be nominated for election and elected by members of the Party residing in Northern Ireland and may not hold the same post for more than five consecutive years.

8. Rules governing the management of and elections within the Northern Ireland Conservative Party shall be submitted to and approved by the Party members residing in Northern Ireland. Thereafter any amendment to the said rules shall take place only with the approval of the Party members residing in Northern Ireland. Such rules shall be consistent with this Constitution.

|I would be happy to answer any questions about the changes to the proposed Party Constitution which I have put forward. The Proposed Constitution as put forward will lead to the death of the Conservative Party as a membership organisation. I will return to this point in a future article.