National
Convention Handbook
In September 2024 CCHQ published
a National Convention handbook. It is a
useful publication with many good points included in it, but why spoil it in
the first sentence by saying:
“The National Convention
is the oldest national institution within the Conservative Party, …”
To be charitable this is
being economical with the reality! The
National Conservative Convention was formed in 1998 when the Conservative Party
constitution was created. I set out
below the differences between the National Union of Conservative and Unionist
Associations which was created in 1867 and the National Convention and
you can decide whether the Convention follows on from the National Union!
The National Union was an
autonomous body which consisted of autonomous Constituency Associations which
could select or deselect their Member of Parliament or their Parliamentary
Candidate without interference by CCHQ.
The National Convention
is a body controlled by the Party Board of the Conservative Party and
Constituency Associations can only select their Member of Parliament or elect
their Parliamentary Candidate from a list produced by CCHQ.
The National Union
Central Council representatives included five Constituency Association members.
The National Convention
has one Constituency Association member.
The National Union
included all Conservative MPs and all Conservative Parliamentary candidates.
The National Convention
includes no MPs or Parliamentary candidates.
The Constitution of the
National Union could be changed by a Constituency Association tabling a motion
at a General Meeting of the Central Council and that motion passed by two
thirds of the votes of those present and voting.
The National Convention
Constitution can only be changed by an electoral college consisting of the
National Convention and the Conservative Parliamentary Party, or by the Party
Board exercising its rights under Article 17 of the Party Constitution.
The Party Conference was
controlled by the National Union which determined its agenda and procedures.
The Party Conference is
now controlled by the Party Board through a sub committee of the Board. It decides its agendas and procedures>
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