New Constitution - General Meetings, Voting at Meetings

 

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (7)

Review of the Conservative Party Constitution - Phase 3

Document sent to Party members by the Chairman of the National Convention, Julian Ellacott 29 January 2026

Suggested changes:

Sch 7-18    11  General Meetings

Proposed:

11.4 The deadline for nominations for any role to be elected at a General Meeting shall be 7 days before the day of the meeting. 

Those being nominated, and those making the nominations, must be Qualifying Members as at the date of close of nominations.

Nominations from a proposer and seconder, and consent from the nominee, must be received in writing or by email, by the Area Chairman (or another member of the Area Management Executive, nominated by the Area Chairman), for the Area in which the Association is situated, in order to be valid.

Only where there is no nomination for a particular role shall nominations made at the meeting itself be valid. 

Delete: , by the Area Chairman (or another member of the Area Management Executive, nominated by the Area Chairman), for the Area in which the Association is situated, in order to be valid.

Insert: after by email “by the Constituency Chairman”

Existing:

9.1.1    To receive and adopt the audited or certificated accounts of the Association prepared in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5.10.1 above;

9.1.2    To receive and adopt the Constituency Report prepared by Officers of the Association in accordance with Paragraph 5.10.2 above;

9.1.3    To elect the Officers in accordance with paragraph 5.4 above;

9.1.4 To confirm the appointment of trustees for the following year.

9.2        Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each member of the Association at least twenty-one days before the date of the meeting and shall require nominations for Officers and other vacancies to be made and seconded not later than seven clear days before the day of the meeting; provided that if no nomination for a particular office or vacancy is so received, nominations made for that office or vacancy at the meeting shall be valid.

 

Proposed:

To receive and adopt the accounts of the Association, having been audited as necessary and approved by the Executive Council, prepared in accordance with the provisions of clause [X] and any direction from the Board

To receive and adopt the Constituency Report, prepared by Officers in accordance with clause [X] and any direction from the Board

To elect Officers in accordance with clause [X] and any direction from the Board

To elect trustees for any property in accordance with clause [X] and any direction from the Board.

Stick with the existing Constitution.   Why should the Board have the ability to interfere with the procedures at General meetings?

Sch7-21   12 QUORUM

Existing:

12.1     For all General Meetings of the Association the quorum shall be not less than 50 members or 10% of the total membership of the Association (whichever is less).

Question:

Should it be based on Qualifying Members at date of notice or date of meeting?

Stick with existing rule based qualifying members at date of notice.

Existing

12.3     In the event that a General Meeting of the Association be or becomes inquorate, another meeting shall be called not less than 7 nor more than 14 days from the date of the inquorate meeting. Any nominations submitted to the inquorate meeting shall stand as nominations for elections at the quorate meeting.

Question

Should there be provision for (at least) the elections of Officers at an inquorate initial meeting to stand, eg if a re-run is also inquorate?

Stick with existing rule.   Answer to question: No.

Sch7-22    13 VOTING AT MEETINGS

Existing:

13.1.3 Proxy voting is not permitted at any Association meeting.

Proposed:

Proxy voting shall not be permitted at any meeting, and postal voting shall only be permitted in circumstances set by the Board.

Stick with the existing rule.

Existing:

13.2      Except where expressly provided otherwise, any motion at any meeting of the Association, including meetings of the Executive Council and its Committees shall be carried on a majority vote.

Proposed:

A motion at any meeting of the Association shall be carried on a majority vote, unless provided for otherwise by the Board.

Stick with the existing rule.

13.3     The Chairman (or chairman of the meeting) shall have a second or casting vote in all cases where the voting is declared to be equal.

Proposed:

A motion at any meeting of the Association shall be carried on a majority vote, unless provided for otherwise by the Board.

The Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote in any cases where the voting is declared to be equal, except in the matters of candidate selection.

Stick with existing rule.

Sch 7    14    Disputes

23

Existing :

14.1     The Executive Council may and, if so requested by any Branch of the Association, shall submit any dispute or difference arising in connection with the Association or any of its Branches to the Area Management Executive for the Area within which the Association is situated with a view to the Area Management Executive bringing about a settlement of such dispute or difference. Such submission shall be made within 56 days of notification of the said dispute to the Executive Council.

14.2     If the Area Management Executive fails to bring about a settlement acceptable to all parties to the dispute or difference, the Executive Council may and, if so requested by any Branch of the Association, shall submit any such dispute or difference to the Board which shall give a decision upon, or take such steps as it thinks fit to bring about a settlement. Any decision given in writing by the Board shall be final and binding on all parties to the dispute or difference and not subject to review of any kind.

Proposed:

The Board shall set rules for the resolution of disputes

Stick with the existing rule.   Another power grab by the Board.   The problem with all these Board power grabs is that the ordinary member never gets to hear of their decisions.   The unaccountable Board can do whatever it likes and the ordinary member is no wiser.

Meeting of minds with Michael Gove!

 Meeting with Michael Gove and Bruce Goodwin at the Pharos meeting about Brexit. I told Michael that the old Tory Party had three separate autonomous elements to it. They were The Parliamentary Party, the Leader's office at CCHQ and the voluntary Party, (the Constituency Associations). Because they were autonomous they had to work together by trusting each other! After 1998 under the new Constitution CCHQ took control and tried to run the Party like a business. Trust broke down because whereas in a business you can contol people by fear(do it or lose your job) or by incentive (do it and you get a pay rise) with volunteers if you place to many onerous conditions on them they just say I have had enough of this and walk away. Trust is lost. That is what has happened with the membership and what will happen with candidates! Michael said he hadn't thought of it like that!

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (6)

 

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (6)

Review of the Conservative Party Constitution - Phase 3

Document sent to Party members by the Chairman of the National Convention, Julian Ellacott 29 January 2026

Suggested changes: 6 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

6.5.3

Proposed:

The Association’s representatives on its Area Council shall ex officio be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political and Deputy Chairman Membership and Finance.

For Associations covering more than one constituency, in addition to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political and Deputy Chairman Membership and Finance representatives on the Area Council shall comprise the Constituency Officer for each constituency plus two further representatives living in each constituency, elected by the Executive Council.

Where an Association straddles the boundaries of more than one Area, representation on the respective Area Councils will be determined by agreement of the Association and the respective Area Management Executives.  If no such agreement can be reached the Board shall make a determination.

Delete in entirety.

Insert:   All members of the Association resident in the Area shall be members of the Area Council.   Constituency Associations shall constitute Area Councils as determined by the Board.

Sch 7-14 6.6 Funds of the Association

6.6.2 Proposed:

The Executive Council shall appoint no fewer than 3 signatories for Association bank accounts, with cheques or other payments always requiring authorisation by at least two of those signatories, to the extent possible. The Board shall set out further rules in this area as necessary.

Delete: “The Board shall set out further rules on this area as necessary.”

Existing:

6.7.3    In an emergency, and at the absolute discretion of the Chairman of the Association, the Chairman may summon a meeting of the Executive Council at shorter notice to deal only with the business stated in the notice convening the meeting.

Proposed:

To deal with a pressing matter the Chairman or a quorum of members of the Executive Council may summon a meeting of the Executive Council at shorter notice, with the consent of the Area Chairman.

Such meeting may only discuss the business stated in the notice of the meeting, relating directly to the pressing matter.

Stick with the existing rule Why should the Area Chairman be involved. He/she can attend the meeting.

Sch 7 -15 Committees of the Association

Existing:

6.5.2    The Executive Council may, pursuant to paragraph 6.8 below, establish such committees of the Association as it shall think fit, for example a Political Committee, a Women’s Committee, a Local Government Committee, and Youth Committee, where there are sufficient numbers of members of the Association who would wish to take part in the activities of such Committee to warrant its establishment.

Proposed:

The Executive Council may, pursuant to clause [X], establish such Committees as it sees fit, provided that any Committee is chaired by a member of the Executive Council appointed by it. 

The Executive Council must set out clear terms of reference for and membership of any Committees so established, and review the same at its first meeting after each AGM.

Where a Committee is established to promote activity in a constituency within an Association covering more than one constituency (ie a Federation), it is to be referred to as the “[Constituency Name] Constituency Committee”, and be chaired by the relevant Constituency Officer. 

Where a Committee is established to promote activity in a defined area smaller than a constituency (eg a ward), it is to be referred to as a Ward or Branch Committee, and be chaired by a relevant Ward Representative.  This is a simplified alternative to having separate provisions for Branches, as currently in section 7 below) – views are welcomed on which route is preferred.

Committees may be established for other purposes, for example running specific election campaigns, policy development, promoting women, young people or other sub-groups of the membership.  Where relevant, these Committees should liaise with any nationally recognised or affiliated groups within the Party with similar objectives.

This provides a structure within which Committees can be developed for any purpose, including to cater for local CWO, YC, CPF groups, etc.

The Board may direct the Executive Council to establish a Committee for a particular topic or purpose, or may set other rules governing Committees.

The Board may lay down Rules which apply to any Committee established by the Executive Council pursuant to clause [X].

Stick with the existing wording.   This is bureaucracy gone mad.   Why does a Committee have to be chaired by a member of the Executive Council?   Why does the Executive Council have to set out the membership of the Committee and review this after each AGM?   Committees should not be set up to promote activity outside the Association!   Why should the Board direct the Executive Council to establish a Committee or set other rules governing Committees?

This is another power grab by the unaccountable, unelected Board.   It is killing the voluntary Party.   With all this bureaucracy imposing all these conditions no one with any sense will want to be a Officer of an Association.   CCHQ will then achieve what it wants, no voluntary Party will exist!

Existing:

6.6.2    The Executive Council shall appoint not less than three signatories for Association bank accounts, bank drafts or cheques or similar documents which shall always require authorisation by at least two of those authorised signatories. This shall include the written authorisation to control electronic, online or digital banking and all payments made in such forms.

Proposed:

The Executive Council shall appoint no fewer than 3 signatories for Association bank accounts, with cheques or other payments always requiring authorisation by at least two of those signatories, to the extent possible. The Board shall set out further rules in this area as necessary.

Delete: “The Board shall set out further rules in this area as necessary”.

More power grab by the Board!

Sch 7-16      7 Branches

7.1 The Executive Council may establish Branches of the Association, in wards, polling districts or other geographical areas in the Constituency or Constituencies, consisting of all members of the Association resident in that geographical area.

The Board may set down further rules in relation to the operation of Branches.

 

Delete “or Constituencies”

Delete: “The Board may set down further rules in relation to the operation of Branches”   Another power grab!

7.4        Each Branch shall consist of the following Officers: Move to Rulebook (in substantively the same form)

Where is this Rulebook?   Is it part of the Constitution?

Sch 7-17     8   AGENT, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, OR OTHER STAFF

Existing

8.1        The Executive Council shall have power to appoint a member of staff who shall be responsible to the Executive Council for supervising the work of the Party organisation throughout the constituency.

Proposed

The Executive Council shall have power to appoint staff, who shall be responsible to the Executive Council for undertaking activity in pursuance of the Objective of the Association throughout the constituency or constituencies, in line with a role specification which the Executive Council shall approve.

This applies to staff employed directly and those employed via a consultancy contract.

The Board may issue guidance or directions on the employment of staff, including template employment contracts and the handling of disputes, which Associations may be required to adopt.

Delete: “or constituencies”

Delete: The Board may issue guidance or directions on the employment of staff, including template employment contracts and the handling of disputes, which Associations may be required to adopt.

More power to the Board!

 

Executive Council Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (5)

 

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (5)

Review of the Conservative Party Constitution - Phase 3

Document sent to Party members by the Chairman of the National Convention, Julian Ellacott 29 January 2026

Suggested changes:

6 Executive Council

Sch 7-11

6.1.3

Existing: 6.1.3 [One or more – which number must be defined] representatives from each ward, The Association may list the wards in order to vary the number according to the size of the ward. if the ward is covered by a single branch, that branch may elect the representative(s) at its AGM;

Proposed

[NUMBER] representatives from each ward, who shall be on the electoral roll in that ward

Should we clarify what “ward” means, in two tier council areas? (Eg the higher tier)

Should this remain a variable, or be fixed at (for example) 1 per ward, regardless?

Or should it be tied to the number of elected councillors (regardless of party) per ward (so that there is some reflection of underlying electorate size)?

Or should there be greater flexibility but with second line agreement by Area, eg “The number and distribution of ward representatives shall be agreed immediately after each AGM between the Management Team and Area Management Executive, and must balance the need for broad equality of electors covered by each representative with the need for the Executive Council to be of an appropriate total size to fulfil its role effectively, taking into account any guidance issued by the Board

Should there be substitutes for ward representatives?

Should they be required to be on the electoral roll in the relevant ward, or is this too restrictive?

Should the Management Team be able to appoint ward representatives if they cannot be filled otherwise (and in such cases these roles could be made non-voting)?

Agree that representatives should be on the electoral roll in that ward

Otherwise Stick to the existing rule.   Why get into more bureaucracy and why should once again .”taking account of any guidance issued by the Board”   A Constitution should be certain, not subject to alterations which ordinary members never get told about.

6.1.5. Proposed

An elected member of the principal local authority or authorities in which the Association operates, nominated by the Conservative Group Leader;

Should the provision about living within the constituency be retained (especially in an era of larger unitaries)?   Yes

Existing

6.1.11 Up to four further persons co-opted by the Executive Council

Proposed

The Executive Council shall cease to exist at the start of each Annual General Meeting, and shall be re-formed immediately following the Annual General Meeting.  The Management Team shall oversee the re-election or re-appointment of all positions except those which are ex officio.

A full list of the Executive Council membership shall be provided to all members of the Association annually, following its formation.

Stick to existing clause but add proposed addition to it.

Sch 7-13

6.5.1

Proposed: . The Executive Council shall have all powers necessary (subject to any resolutions of the Association made at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting) to manage the affairs of the Association and its membership, including any Committees, provided that their actions do not contradict the purpose of the Party or objective of the Association, or any direction from the Board.

Delete “or any direction from the Board”   More interference by the Board!

 

Name and Affiliation - Draft New Conservative Party Constitution

 A Draft New Conservative Party Constitution has been issued.   I set out below various comments on particular clauses.   I welcome any comments.

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (4)

Sch 7-3 1 NAME and AFFILIATION

1.1 The name of the Association shall be “............ Conservative Association” (if the Association covers a single Parliamentary Constituency) or “…. Conservative Federation” (if the Association covers more than a single Parliamentary Constituency).

Hereafter, for this draft, the term “Association” is used throughout, but could be amended to say “Association/Federation” if desired.

Delete: Conservative Federation” (if the Association covers more than a single Parliamentary Constituency).

Hereafter, for this draft, the term “Association” is used throughout

1.2 The Association shall be a member of, and affiliated to, The Conservative and Unionist Party (“the Party”) and shall at all times be bound by the Constitution of the Party (as amended 1 January 2027 and thereafter), and any rules laid down by the Board.

Delete : , and any rules laid down by the Board

Sch 7-4 Objects

The Objects of the Association shall be to sustain and promote the objects and values of the Party in the Parliamentary constituency of ...................... (“the Constituency”); to provide an effective campaigning organisation in the Constituency; to secure the return of Conservative Candidates at elections; and to raise the necessary funds to achieve these objectives; to contribute to the central funds of the Party.

Proposed change

The Association’s primary objective, in support of the Party’s Purpose (as set out in Part I of the Constitution) is to secure the return of Conservative Party candidates at elections, by providing an effective campaign organisation and the raising of funds to do so.

Ignore the proposed change and stick with the original.

Sch 7-5 3 Membership

3.2 All members of the Association shall be bound by the Constitution of the Party, the Party’s Code of Conduct, and any rules set out by the Board.

Delete: “the Party’s Code of Conduct, and any rules set out by the Board.”

Existing rule:

3.3        All members of the Association shall have the right to attend and vote at any General Meeting (including an Annual or Special General Meeting) of the Association or Branch of which they are members, save that no member of the Association may vote or nominate, propose or second any person or motion at any meeting of the Association unless they have been a member of that Association for at least three months prior to the date of the meeting.

Proposed

All members of the Association shall have the right to attend and vote at a General Meeting, provided that they have been a member of that Association for at least three months prior to the date of the vote, and fulfil any other requirements of being Qualifying Members as set out by the Board from time to time.

The existing rule is sufficient, so stick with the existing rule.   Why should the Board have the power to determine “other requirements of being a Qualifying Member”?   They could say that only people with red hair should be qualifying members!   This is control freakery gone mad.   If the Board was accountable to the members the position would be different!

Existing rule:

3.5        The Officers of the Association may move before the Executive Council the suspension or termination of membership of the Association of any member whose declared opinions or conduct shall, in their judgement, be inconsistent with the objects or financial well-being of the Association or be likely to bring the Party into disrepute. Similarly, the Officers may move the refusal of membership of the Association for the same reasons. Following such a motion, the Executive Council may by a majority vote suspend, terminate or refuse membership for the same.

Proposed:

The Management Team may propose to the Executive Council the suspension or termination of membership of the Association of any member whose declared opinions or conduct shall, in their judgement, be inconsistent with the objective or financial well-being of the Association or be likely to bring the Party into disrepute (as defined in the Code of Conduct).

Similarly, the Management Team may move the refusal of membership of the Association for the same reasons.

Following such a motion, the Executive Council may by a majority vote suspend, terminate or refuse membership for the same reason.

The Board shall set any procedures or rules to be followed in order for a suspension, termination or refusal of membership to be considered valid.

The existing rule is perfectly satisfactory and should be retained. Once again we have proposed widening  powers of the Board to do what ever they like.   I am afraid the Board has got a dose of control freakery.   They have destroyed any vestige of democracy in the Conservative Party.   The end result, if all these changes go through will be the death of the Conservative Party.

Sch 7-6             4 Honorary Positions

Proposed:

4.1 The members of the Association shall elect a President at each AGM.  The President shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Council. The President shall not be an Officer.

Insert after Officer: “The term of office of the President shall be a maximum of five years.”

Proposed

4.3 The members of the Association may, at a General Meeting, elect as Honorary Vice-Presidents or Patrons persons who have made an exceptional contribution to the Party.  These Honorary Vice-Presidents or Patrons shall retain this title for however long they remain as a member of the Party, unless the Executive Council resolves to require them to submit to re-election at the subsequent AGM.   This role does not confer any ex-officio rights to any other role within the Association or its Committees.

Delete: or Patrons shall retain this title for however long they remain as a member of the Party, unless the Executive Council resolves to require them to to submit to re-election at the subsequent AGM.

Insert after Vice -Presidents shall be subject to re-election at subsequent AGMs.

Sch 7-7   5  Officers

Proposed:

5.1.3a Within an Association comprising more than one Parliamentary constituency (namely a Federation), Constituency Officers for each of those constituencies.

Delete

5.1.4 With the exception of the roles of Deputy Chairman (Membership & Fundraising) and of Treasurer, which may be held by the same person, no person shall hold more than one of the Principal Officer roles.

Delete :With the exception of the roles of Deputy Chairman (Membership & Fundraising) and of Treasurer, which may be held by the same person,

An Officer of one Association may only stand for election for an Officer position in another Association if the two Associations are within the same Area and prior consent of the Area Management Executive is given.

Delete

Should there be restrictions on sitting councillors being eligible to stand as Chairman, or any Officer role?  (If so, should it exclude current Officers?

Insert:”A sitting Councillor shall not be the Constituency Chairman.”

Councillors are accountable to the Constituency Association. There is a conflict of interest if the same person is a Councillor and the Constituency Chairman.

Should there be restrictions on paid staff (of the Association, CCHQ and/or an MP or candidate) being eligible to stand as Chairman, or any Officer role?

Paid staff of the Association or CCHQ may only be appointed to a non voting position.   An MP or parliamentary candidate is not eligible to stand as the Chairman of their Constituency Association.

 

Proposed

5.6 If an Officer ceases to hold office, for whatever reason, the Executive Council shall elect their successor who shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting. An officer so elected will be deemed to have served a year, for the purposes of clause [X], if by the time of that Annual General Meeting they have been in post for six months or more.

Should any such vacancies be required to be advertised first?

No

Should there be a mechanism for removing an Officer during their term?

An Officer may be removed from office at a General Meeting of the Association by a vote of no confidence.

Should provision be made for Associations to elect Officers using an online ballot with results reported to the AGM, if they so wish?

No

Proposed

The Board may set out mandatory training for Officers.

Delete  “The Board may set out mandatory training for Officers.”

  Who is going to monitor all these Board requirements?   If we continue to keep on increasing the Board’s power to demand more and more from the officer soo we will find that no one is prepared to be an officer.   Then what?

Sch-10   

Existing:

5.10 Ensure that accounts for the year ending 31 December prior have been approved by the Executive Council and are available for presentation to members, regardless of whether they have been submitted to the Party or any regulatory body prior; Produce a Report on the Association’s activities in the year.

 

5.10.1 prepare all Association accounts which shall be submitted for audit or certification by a person or persons appointed by the Association and a certified true copy of the duly audited or certificated statements of accounts shall be available for all members of the Association and shall be sent to the Area Management Executive immediately following the Annual General Meeting of the Association; and

5.10.2 produce a Constituency Report which shall be available for all members of the Association and shall be sent to the Area Management Executive immediately following the Annual General Meeting of the Association and shall include the following information:

Not less than one month prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Association, the Management Team shall:

Ensure that accounts for the year ending 31 December prior have been approved by the Executive Council and are available for presentation to members, regardless of whether they have been submitted to the Party or any regulatory body prior;

Proposed

Produce a Report on the Association’s activities in the year to 31 December prior, in line with any rules laid down for the purpose by the Board.  The Report shall be circulated with the Notice of the AGM to all entitled to that Notice.

Stick to the existing rules. Under the proposal once again we see the unaccountable Board asking for carte blanche to introduce whatever it wants.