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:
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.
