The 1997 Conservative Party Conference. "What we want William, what we really, really want!
Essential viewing do not miss this video!
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026
Tory Democracy in action, or is it?
The following letter has been sent to Conservative Party members in the Buckinghamshire Area inviting ordinary members to stand for election as an officer of the Buckinghamshire Area. However unless you are an officer of your Constituency or any other Constituency in the Area you will not be able to attend the meeting at which the vote will take place, or if there is more than one candidate for a position, you will not be able to vote for yourself!
The Area Council should invite every member of the Party to the meeting at which elections take place and each member should have a vote. That is democracy!
Many years ago, after a Buckinghamshire Area AGM it was announced that that there was one position that there had been no candidate for, so I put my name forward to fill the vacancy. Guess what? The Establishment very quickly found another person to put their nomination in who was on the Area Executive so was able to stand and vote for herself in the election. That person was Emma Pidding, now Baroness Pidding who started her long ride up the greasy pole! I somehow feel that I helped her on the way!
Subject: Notice of the Buckinghamshire Area Annual General Meeting Dear*********, It is only through our members and volunteers that we can succeed in our ultimate aim of getting Conservatives elected at all levels, across the country. Building a thriving and internally democratic Party is also important, to ensure that we run our own affairs robustly and transparently. You may be aware that we hold elections at your local Association or Federation level, but we also hold elections at our Area level (which typically cover a whole county, or similar). The roles of our elected Area teams are to co-ordinate Associations/Federations and take initiatives in respect of:
Beyond these formal roles, Area Officers play an important role in representing the views of members upwards to your Regional team, and onwards to the Party Board, Chairman and Leader. If you are interested in standing for one of the three Area Officer roles for this Area (Chairman; Deputy Chairman Membership; or Deputy Chairman Political), you will need the support of two senior officers from either your own local Association or one of the others in the Area. You may contact them directly if you wish, or reply to this email (mario@mariocreatura.org.uk) and I can put you in contact. The Area AGM will take place on Monday 28th September 2026, therefore the deadline for valid nominations is no later than 6pm on Monday 21st September 2026. Only valid members of the Area Executive Council may attend the AGM, and have a vote |
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Wednesday, August 12, 2026
A History of the Conservative Party Constitution (Episode 4).
The week before the 1997 Party Conference. The Proposed Party Constitution is leaked! See what the late, great Ann Widdecombe thought about it, what Archie Norman thinks it will contain. William Hague is confirmed as Party Leader, the one and only time a Party Leader has been confirmed by all the members of the Party!
Essential viewing to see how the Tory Party works!
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (14)
Draft
New Conservative Party Constitution (14)
The following clauses are from existing
Schedule 6.
Candidate Selection – Committee on Candidates
NP- 1 7
Proposed by CCHQ
Remove reference to
English Parliament and PCCs; refer to Senedd and add Combined Authority Mayors.
Provide the option for a mechanism for mutual
recognition of candidates with the Scottish Party?
These points are agreed but still no
reference to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Why not?
8
Proposed by CCHQ:
The Candidates Committee shall
prepare a procedure for the selection and review of applicants onto the
Approved Lists and submit that procedure to the Board for prior approval.
The Candidates Committee shall
from time to time prepare mandatory rules as to the procedure by which
Associations and other bodies select candidates for all or any public elections
and submit that procedure to the Board for prior approval and publication.
This is an improvement on what was
originally proposed. At least now The
Board has to give approval. However the
Board requires radical reform if it is to perform this function.
The following clauses are from existing
Schedule 7/7A.
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15.1 The Executive Council shall when
required establish a Candidate Selection Committee, the members of which
shall be: |
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15.1.1 The Chairman of the
Association; |
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15.1.2 Other members of the
Association appointed by the Executive Council in accordance with guidance
published by the Committee on Candidates of the Board (as established under
Schedule 6 of the Party Constitution); |
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15.1.3 The Agent, who will act as
Secretary to the Candidates Selection Committee, and not be entitled to vote; |
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15.1.4 Such person as is
appointed by the Board of the Party for the purpose, who shall be invited to
attend all meetings of the committee in an advisory capacity and not be
entitled to vote. |
CCHQ:
This is essentially
the Sift Committee. Should we enshrine
it at this level of detail in the Constitution or leave this to the rules to be
set by the Board, or something in between?
Change
reference to Agent to cover or other staff.
This wording must be kept so that if the Board decide to alter it
members are made aware.
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15.2 Selection of Parliamentary
Candidates |
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15.2.1 Whenever it may be
necessary to initiate the procedure to adopt a Prospective Parliamentary
Candidate, the Candidate Selection Committee shall, through the Chairman or
other Officer of the Association, act in consultation with the Committee of
the Board on Candidates and, as far as is practicable, shall follow the
procedure published by the Committee on Candidates of the Board (as
established under Schedule 6 of the Constitution). In any case the following
procedure shall apply: |
CCHQ: This is essentially the Selection
Council and Member Meeting. Should we
enshrine it at this level of detail in the Constitution or leave this to the
rules to be set by the Board, or something in between?
This wording must be kept so that if the Board decide to alter it
members are made aware.
PER
CCHQ: In the event of the motion to readopt a sitting Member of Parliament
being passed, no further approvals are required.
This is to
clarify that no member SGM is needed (which is a query often raised).
I am not surprised that this question is often raised. The motion should be put to all members of
the Constituency Association for their agreement at a General Meeting. I remember John Major complaining to me that
some MPs packed their Executives with family members so that they could not be
removed! This was not unusual!
Per CCHQ:
14 The Board may
refuse or withdraw the membership of an Association.
Clauses 16-19 Detail – for Rulebook (if it needs retaining
at all)?
These details are necessary to
ensure that there is a fair process in place and should be kept.
Proposed by CCHQ:
22.3 A Conservative group on a local authority
shall not enter any formal arrangement with another political party or grouping
without the prior consent of the Party Chairman, with such consent being
coordinated by the CCA.
What about an informal agreement, and what is the difference?
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Association of Conservative Clubs |
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25 (i) Where a Conservative Club is
affiliated to the Association of Conservative Clubs and a subscription, donation
or per capita payment is made on behalf of the members of the Club to the
Association in which the Club is situated, those members should be deemed to
be Club members of the Conservative Party (hereafter referred to as Club
members). (i) Club
members shall become Party members upon payment of such appropriate
subscription as shall be determined by the Board from time to time. (iii) In
order to represent a Club or the ACC in a representative capacity within the
Party such a representative must be a Party member. |
Is this still relevant/does this need changing?
Probably!
I was hoping that eventually the Party would see sense
and create a democratic Constitution.
It was not to be. The Dictatorship,
unaccountability of the Party Board and layers of bureaucracy remain. Transparency in the Party is zero. Why cannot membership figures be given on a
6 monthly basis so we van have an idea as to what Party members are feeling or
do the hierarchy fear that membership is into a serious decline. On the other hand perhaps that is what they
want, so then they would not have to bother with members!
A History of the Conservative Party Constitution (Episode 3) July 1997
Moving towards a Conservative Party Constitution.
Jon Sopel interviews John Strafford and Theresa May
Friday, July 31, 2026
Changes to the Conservative Party Constitution Phase 7
Here we go again. Has your Constituency Chairman told you about this? Comments to follow!
Email sent by Julian Ellacott, Chairman of the National Convention on 30 July.
Dear John, Thank you to the many of you who provided your input in response to the previous phases of consultation on changes to the Party Constitution. The responses have been analysed and draft text updated as a result. To recap on the process, we are reviewing the Constitution in phases, covering different topics, starting last year and running until later this year. Once all sections of the Constitution have been covered all of the proposed changes will be put to a vote (in line with the Constitution). We have now moved onto to Phase 7, which covers the following sections:
The document setting out suggested changes and questions for your consideration is here. |
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Wednesday, July 29, 2026
A History of the Conservative Party Constitution (Episode 2)
June 1997
The Establishment fights back. Archie Hamilton, the new Chairman of the 1922 Committee is not keen on democracy!
Monday, July 27, 2026
Will the 1922 Committee fight back on changes to the Party Constitution?
With Lord Graham Brady at the Conservative's Flackwell Heath branch Summer Party held on 3 July. Supper was organised and hosted by the lovely Kirsty Griffiths and her husband Rob. I put two questions to Lord Brady as follow:
1) Under the present Conservative Party Constitution the Executive of the 1922 Committee determines the rules for the Leadership Election after consultation with the Party Board. Under the proposed new Constitution to be implemented on 1 January 2027 this is changed to "The Party Board will determine the Rules for the Leadership Election." (nothing about consulting with the 1922 Committee!) Does he agree with this change?
Lord Brady's response "Under the present Constitution any change has to be agreed by a majority of the 1922 Committee. I would be surprised if they agree to it!"
2) Recently Rishi Sunak said that his greatest regret as Leader of the Conservative Party was not being elected by the ordinary members of the Conservative Party, because if he had been so elected he would have been able to put forward his proposals on policy and know that the voluntary Party supported him.
Lord Brady responded "There were several hustings meetings at which Rishi could have put forward his Agenda"
Under the present Party Constitution if a Leader is the only candidate for election, the new Leader and the Party Board can order a vote of the Party membership to endorse the new Leader. This is what William Hague did after he was elected by just the Conservative MPs! Rishi could have done the same!
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
A History of the Conservative Party Constitution-Episode 1
In June 1997 the Conservative Party set out to elect a new Leader after the General Election defeat. A Constitution for the Party had been proposed, but the Establishment closed ranks to stop it! Archie Norman sets out his views. John Strafford responds!
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (13)
Draft
New Conservative Party Constitution (13)
I have given many comments on Schedule 7 of the
Constitution (see below), so I will not repeat them, other than to say that the
Establishment have maintained their grip on control of the Party. However there are a few points that ought to
be looked at again. They are as follow:
Proposed by CCHQ:
Schedule VII-7 Refusal of membership or
expulsion from an Association
To be removed, subject to legal check – it most likely
duplicates material in Membership section.
How can you put forward something that requires a
legal check? What if it doesn’t
duplicate material in the Membership section? Sloppy!
Schedule 7- 7 Officers
Proposed by CCHQ:
A Treasurer
Agreed good common sense
Proposed by CCHQ: An individual shall not be eligible for
election as Association Chairman where they are, in relation to any part of the
geographic area covered by the Association:
(a) a councillor of a principal local authority;
(b) an elected Mayor;
(c) a Member of Parliament;
(d) a Member of the Welsh Senedd;
(e) a Member of the Scottish Parliament; or
(f) a candidate for any of
(b) to (e) above.
Where an Association Chairman, after election
as Chairman, is elected or selected to any role listed above, and that role
relates to any part of the geographic area covered by the Association, they
must stand down as Chairman at the next Annual General Meeting.
This is an improvement on the Party Constitution and
should be applauded subject to the following:
Insert: after (e) “a member of the Northern Ireland
Assembly; or”
Delete: “(b) to (e) above”
Insert: “(a) to (f) above”
Delete: “at the next Annual General Meeting”
Insert: after stand down as Chairman “and a meeting of
the Executive Council called to elect a new Chairman as per Schedule 7-8 5.6.
If you are a Candidate for any of the above there is a conflict of interest in your role as a Candidate which is a political role, and and accountable as such to the Party and the role of Chairman responsible for the Party organisation.
Existing Constitution
Sch 7 -13
6.5.11 The Executive Council shall have the power (subject
to any resolutions of the Association made at an Annual General Meeting or a
Special General Meeting) to deal with all matters affecting the Association and
its membership, and to exercise control over all Branches and specialist
committees or groups.
Proposed by CCHQ:
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 meet the purpose of the Association
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”
The Board could direct anything. Why should it have that power?
Proposed by CCHQ:
6.5.3 The Association’s representatives on its Area Council
shall be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political and Deputy Chairman Membership
and Finance. For Associations covering more than one constituency, the
Constituency Officer (for each constituency) plus two further representatives
living in each constituency, elected by the Executive Council, shall also be
members of the Area Council.
Delete: entire clause.
Insert “All members of the Association shall be members
of the Area Council and the Regional Council”
If we want a democratic Party then ordinary members
should be able to attend and vote at Area and Regional meetings. The Conservative Party abolished pyramid
democracy in the Trade Unions. Why
allow it in the Conservative Party?
Sch 7 22
Proposed by CCHQ
A motion at any meeting of the Association shall be carried
on a majority vote, unless provided for otherwise by the Board.
Delete: “unless provided for otherwise by the Board”
What is the point of voting if the Board can overrule it?
Proposed:
Sch 7 23
14.1 The Board shall set rules for the resolution of
disputes.
What Rules?
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (12) - the Rulebook!
As this is the third draft of Schedule 7 I was hoping that many of the suggestions made on the first draft would have been taken up. Not a chance! Once again we have the undemocratic Party Board increasing its power. The bureaucracy gets worse. In addition to this large chunks of Schedule 7 have been moved to the "Rulebook" - whatever that is. I will make some detailed comments later but in the meantime just what is the "Rulebook?" Has anyone seen it? Is it part of the Constitution? Who controls it? Can it be changed and if so how and who by? Will ordinary Party members have any say in it or will it just be changed by the Party Board or the National Convention without the ordinary members being informed? Will every member get a copy of it?
I think we should be told!
Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (12)
Email sent by Julian Ellacott: 23 May 2026:
Finally, following the consultation on Schedules 7/7A earlier in the year, the comments received have been analysed and an updated draft produced.
Given its significance, we are circulating the draft to enable any further comment – if you have any comments, please email national.convention@conservatives.com.
Thank you in for your participation in this important task.
Yours sincerely,
Julian Ellacott
Chairman of the National Convention and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee
Email sent by Julian Ellacott: 23 May 2026:
Finally, following the consultation on Schedules 7/7A earlier in the year, the comments received have been analysed and an updated draft produced.
Given its significance, we are circulating the draft to enable any further comment – if you have any comments, please email national.convention@conservatives.com.
Thank you in for your participation in this important task.
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Constitutional Review Post-Consultation Paper –
Exposure Draft 2 (May 2026)
Phase 3 (consulted on in Q1 2026;)
This Phase covers the following topics:
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Part VII – Associations
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