The Conservative Party is not fit for purpose!

 

A new and democratic structure is needed!

The Conservative Party is no longer fit for purpose.   Without radical reform it faces oblivion at the next General Election.   With radical reform it can reduce the damage it will suffer and create the basis for a revival.   It is now up to Party members to decide.

Here is an organisation chart from a pamphlet I wrote in 1990 proposing a Party Board. I was heavily criticised at the time. In 1993 it was adopted by Sir Norman Fowler but instead of the elected positions he made them appointments. The Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Treasurer, and Deputy Treasurer would all be elected at an Annual General Meeting of the Party to which all Party members were invited. The Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive would be the only ones appointed. In addition to the above members of the Board we would add the Leaders and Chairmen of the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Ireland Conservatives.

Changing the present Conservative Constitution would take far too long so the simplest way to proceed is as follows:

Invite all the Constituency Associations to have a General Meeting at which they would in principle disaffiliate from the present Conservative Constitution and affiliate to the new Constitution as outlined above.

If enough did so CCHQ would find it impossible to resist.

The great advantage from the members point of view is that the Constituency Associations would get autonomy from CCHQ and would be able to decide on the selection or deselection of their MP.

Secondly, The Party Conference used to be organised by the voluntary Party and this would revert to them so that they could once again have motions for debate and proper discussions with Ministers having to respond to points raised.

I see the above proposals as the only way forward if the Conservative Party wishes to avoid oblivion.