Draft New Conservative
Party Constitution (9)
Review of the Conservative Party Constitution - Phase 4
Document sent to Party members by the Chairman of the National
Convention, Julian Ellacott 19 March 2026
Constitutional Review Discussion Paper
Phase 4 – Q1 2026
This Phase covers the following topics:
·
Part VI – Area Councils, Area
Management Executives and Regional Officers
·
Schedule 5 – Area Councils,
Area Management Executives and Regional Officers
·
Part V – The
National Conservative Convention
·
Schedule 3 – The
National Conservative Convention
·
Schedule 8 – The Scottish
Conservative & Unionist Party and the Welsh Conservative Party.
The proposed changes in this Phase get to the heart of
whether the Conservative Party wishes to be a democratic organization where
ultimately ordinary Party members are in control with those running the Party
are accountable to the members or whether it wants to continue as an Oligarchy
controlled by the Party Board and CCHQ.
If the proposed changes are implemented I have no
doubt that as a membership organization the Conservative Party will cease to
exist. What rights does the ordinary
Party member have?
He or she elects the Chairman of their Constituency
Association.
That Chairman then sits on the Area Council.
The Area Council elects the Area Executive.
The Area Council elects the Regional Officers.
The Chairman, the Area Executive and the Regional
Officers are members of the National Convention.
The National Convention elects four members of the
Party Board.
So the ordinary member having voted once all the rest
follows so the only person accountable to the ordinary member is his or her
Constituency Chairman.
This is called Pyramid Democracy, a system which was
made illegal in the Trade Unions by Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s
on the grounds that it led to corruption and manipulation of the Ballot. I wonder what Margaret Thatcher would say
today if she was told that it is this very same system of Pyramid Democracy
which the Conservative Party is using in its own organization.
I publish below the above Parts and Schedules of what a democratic Party Constitution should look like, and in the next few days will compare this democratic Constitution with the proposed changes to the Party’s existing Constitution.
You can then be
the judge and decide whether you want the existing Oligarchic Constitution to
continue or a democratic Constitution!
PART
VI
AREA COUNCILS, AREA
MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES AND REGIONAL OFFICERS
26 There shall be established
and maintained in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a number of Area
Councils, the composition and precise number of which shall be determined from
time to time by the Board, whose decision shall be final and binding.
27 The
Board shall undertake a specific review of boundaries following the
redistribution of Parliamentary boundaries and shall consider undertaking such
a review following
27.1 a
unanimous request from an Area Management Executive and Regional Chairman
within an Area; or
27.2 a request from
not less than 60% of Association Chairmen within an Area; or
27.3
a request from the Executive Council of any
Association which is affected by a boundary change.
28 Each
Area Council shall comprise
28.1
28.2 The elected
members of the Area Management Executive, who must be resident within the Area.
Area Management Executive
29 Each Area Council shall
meet twice a year, one of which meetings shall be the Annual Meeting of the
Area Council at which the election of the Area Management Executive takes
place.(in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5). The Area Management Executive shall act as a
co-ordinating body between the Board and Associations with a view to enhancing
the performance of Associations in each Area and co-ordinating activities and
the efficient management of resources within each Area.
30
Each Area Management Executive shall consist of
30.1 a
Chairman (“the Area Chairman”); elected by the members resident in the Area at the
Annual Meeting of the Area Council.
30.2 two
Deputy Chairmen, elected by the members resident in the Area at the Annual
Meeting of the Area Council.
30.2.1One of whom shall have particular responsibility for
co-ordinating the formulation and development of policy ideas and initiatives
and political campaigning, in the Area (“the Political Deputy Chairman”);
and
30.2.2One of whom shall have
particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within the Area (“the
Membership Deputy Chairman”);
30.3 up to two
further Officers who may, from time to time, be co-opted by the Area Management
Executive.
30.4 A
Treasurer elected by the members resident in the Area at the Annual Meeting of
the Area Council who shall be responsible for the finances of the Area Council
and Executive.
31 In Areas
comprising more than twelve constituencies, Area Councils shall elect to the
Area Management Executive, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5, one
additional Officer for every additional six constituencies or part thereof.
32
It shall be the function of each Area Management
Executive to co-ordinate Associations and take
initiatives in respect of
32.1
sharing of resources between
Associations and Council Groups.
32.2 the finance
and membership of Associations;
32.3 the motivation and monitoring of the
performance of Associations and Council Groups, taking steps to resolve
conflicts however the Area Management Executive sees fit.
32.4 the management and training of Officers of
Associations;
32.5 campaigning
and Conservative representation in National, and Local Government elections;
32.6
matters relating to Local Government and Councillors.
32.7 assisting
elected representatives and the professional staff with the co-ordination of
local media relations;
a.
resolving disputes within Associations and Branches thereof,
including the investigation of breaches of Rules of Associations;
b.
the provision of assistance to, and the undertaking of
activities within a Supported Association;
c.
preparing and submitting to the Board an annual report on the
activities of each Association within the Area.
33
If the Board decides that an Area Management Executive
is failing to fulfil its functions, the Board (or its representative) may meet
the Area Management Executive and impose an Action Plan which the Area
Management Executive shall be required to meet within a given time scale.
34
The Board may appoint a representative to monitor the
performance of the Area Management Executive in respect of the Action Plan. If,
upon receipt of a report from the Board’s representative, the Board forms the
opinion that an Area Management Executive has taken insufficient remedial
action or otherwise failed to comply with the requirements of the Action Plan,
the Board shall afford the Area Management Executive an opportunity of making
representations to it.
Regional Council
35 The Board shall establish
throughout England, by dividing into regions, a regional structure. Thereafter
the Board may from time to time amend the said regional structure to take
account of any change in circumstances.
36 The Annual
Meeting of the Regional Council shall be held each year at such time and place
as the Officers of the Region shall appoint, and the procedure for summoning
such meeting shall be as follows:
Preliminary
Notice
37 A preliminary
notice shall be sent to every member of the Party resident in the Region not
later than fifty-six clear days before the date appointed to such meeting.
The Business of the
Annual Meeting shall include:
38 (a) To elect the officers of the Region
(b) To receive the Annual Report
presented by the Chairman of the Region.
© To receive and adopt the financial accounts
of the Region.
Notice of Special
Business
39 Notice of any special business for inclusion
in the Agenda shall be sent so as to reach the Secretary not later than
forty-two days before the date of the meeting.
This shall be submitted in the form of a Notice of Motion provided it
has first received the endorsement of the Executive Council of a Constituency
Association and authority has been given for it to be moved at the meeting by a
representative nominated for that purpose.
Notice of Motion
40 A notice of motion may also be submitted by
the Officers of the Region.
The Officers shall decide and arrange the
order of business to be brought before a meeting of The Council.
Agenda
41 Fourteen clear days before the date
appointed for the meeting, the Secretary shall email to members of the Council
an agenda paper.
Special Meetings
42 The
Officers may and if required by not less than fifty members of the Council
shall forthwith summon a Special Meeting of the Council. Fourteen clear days notice, at least shall
be given of any such notice. No
business other than that specified in the notice convening the meeting shall be
transacted at such meeting.
43 Four
Regional Officers shall be elected in each Region, one of whom shall be elected
as Regional Chairman. Two elected Regional Officers in the Region will be
Deputy Regional Chairmen. One elected
Regional Officer will be Treasurer.
43.1 One Deputy
Chairman shall have particular responsibility for assisting Area Deputy
Chairmen, where requested, with coordinating the formulation and development of
political campaigning, in the Region (“the Political Deputy Chairman”);
and
43.2 One Deputy Chairman shall have
particular responsibility for assisting Deputy Chairmen, where requested, with fund-raising and membership
within the Region (“the Membership Deputy Chairman”); No Regional Officer shall
hold the same office for more than five consecutive years.
43.3 The Treasurer will be responsible for the
funds of the Region.
44 The Regional Officers shall be elected at
the Annual General Meeting of the Region in accordance with the provisions of
Schedule 5, by those Party members resident in the Region
45
The Regional Officers shall be responsible for
45.1
co-ordinating campaigning and political activities which cross Area boundaries;
45.2 assisting Area Management Executives in the
organisation of activities which cross Area boundaries;
45.3 co-ordinating campaign activity for Local
Government elections where local authority boundaries cross Area boundaries;
45.4 ensuring the strategy of the Board in relation to
Parliamentary boundary changes is implemented;
45.5 when so requested by the
Board, providing assistance in the event of performance failings by Area
Management Executives.
45.6 when so requested by the Board, providing
assistance in the establishment of fair disciplinary processes and dispute
resolution within the Region.
45.7 promoting liaison between the Area Officers
within the Region.
45.8 introducing and promoting initiatives across the
Region in any matters as requested by the Board from time to time.
45.9 to administer the funds of the Region.
45.10appoint the Secretary of the Region responsible
for the administration of the Region.
Schedule 5
AREA COUNCILS, AREA MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES, AND REGIONAL OFFICERS.
There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Area
Council for each Area which shall be held between 30 June and 30 September, the
date to be decided by the Area Management Executive.
1 The Area Chairman shall
give not less than 28 days clear notice of the Annual Meeting of the Area
Council to every member of the Party resident within the Area. The Agent or
Organising Secretary of each Association within the Area of the Area Council,
shall also receive notice and be entitled to attend in a non-voting capacity.
2 In
such notice the Area Chairman shall invite nominations for election to the
elected posts to the Area Management Executive and the notice shall state the
address to which nominations shall be sent, to be received not later than seven
clear days before the date of the meeting.
3 Any
member of an Association within an Area may stand for election within that Area
to the Area Management Executive provided they are proposed and seconded by
members resident within the Area in which they are standing for election.
4 The
election shall take place at the meeting of the Area Council. The election
shall be by secret ballot. The Returning Officer shall be a member of the
professional staff of the Party, nominated for the purpose by the Board.
5 Candidates
may stand for the posts of
1.1 Chairman;
1.2 Deputy
Chairman – Political and Campaigning
1.3 Deputy
Chairman – Membership and Fund Raising;
1.4 Treasurer
1.5 If
applicable the post of additional Officer(s),
and the Candidate with the most votes for the respective post shall be
duly elected for that post for the following year with immediate effect.
6 No one may hold the same
office as an Officer of the Area Management Executive (whether in an elected or
co-opted position) for more than five consecutive years.
7 If a member of the Area
Management Executive ceases to hold office, for whatever reason, the vacancy
shall be filled by co-option by the remaining members of the Area Management
Executive until the next Annual meeting of the Area Council. Such co-option must
be duly reported to a member of the professional staff of the Party before it
can take effect.
8 The Regional Chairman of
each Region established shall give notice to every member resident within the Region
and the Secretary or Agent of every Association within the Region of the annual
election of the Regional Officers. The notice shall also state
8.1 the date by
which nominations for election to the post of Regional Officer must be
returned;
8.2 the address to
which nominations shall be sent;
8.3 the
date by which ballot papers shall be returned or online votes cast.
9 Ballot papers shall be
dispatched within 14 days of the close of nominations and the ballot shall
close 14 days after the dispatch of the ballot papers. If an online ballot is
to be held then this timetable shall apply to the opening and closing of that ballot.
10 Any Party Member may stand
for election as a Regional Officer in the Region in which they are resident.
The election of Regional officers shall take place by secret ballot of
all members resident within the Region. The Returning Officer shall be a member
of the professional staff of the Party, nominated for the purpose by the Board.
10
Candidates shall stand for the posts of either
11.1 Regional
Chairman;
11.2 Deputy Chairman
– Political and Campaigning
11.3 Deputy Chairman
– Membership and Fund Raising.
11.3 Treasurer
The Candidate with the most votes for the respective post shall be duly elected for that post for the following year with immediate effect. A candidate shall not stand for more than one of these posts.
PART
V
THE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION
20 There shall be established and maintained The National Conservative
Convention which shall consist of
20.1 the Chairmen of each Association within England and Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland two Deputy
Chairmen and Treasurer elected by the members of the Association at a General
meeting of the Association.
20.2 the
elected representatives on the Board; and the elected members of the Scottish
Management Board of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party; and
20.3
the elected members of the Board of the Welsh
Conservative Party; and
20.4 all members of
the Area Management Executives as elected in accordance with the provisions of
Schedule 5 and their equivalent in Scotland; and
20.5 all Regional
Chairmen and Deputy Regional Chairmen as elected in accordance with the
provisions of Schedule 5; and
20.6 such further
representation from each Recognised Organisation, Specialist Group, or Other
Body as the Board shall from time to time determine, having regard to the
membership of the individual Recognised Organisation, Specialist Group or Other Body
(not exceeding 100 such representatives for all Recognised Organisations,
Specialist Groups or Other Bodies), who shall be elected by the members of each
Recognised Organisation Specialist
Group or Other Body in accordance
with their respective constitutions; and
20.7 the three past
Presidents of the National Conservative Convention; and
20.8
the two immediate past Chairmen of the National
Conservative Convention;
21 The
National Conservative Convention shall elect, in accordance with the provisions
of Schedule 3, a Chairman of the Convention whose responsibility it shall be to
ensure that the Convention discharges its functions as set out in Article 24
below. The Chairman of the Convention shall, ex-officio, be a Deputy Chairman
of the Board.
22 The National
Conservative Convention shall elect, in accordance with the provisions of
Schedule 3, a President of the Convention, and who shall be a member of the
Board and who shall be known as “President”.
23
The National Conservative Convention shall also elect
three further Officers, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3, who
shall be members of the Board and shall serve as Vice-Presidents of the
National Conservative Convention.
24
The functions of the National Conservative Convention
shall be to
24.1
support and promote the objects and values of the
Party;
24.2 elect
representatives to the Board;
24.3 oversee and
receive reports from the Board, the Officers of the Regional Councils, the Area
Management Executives and Recognised Organisations;
24.4 provide a focus
for views of Party Members and act as a link between the Party Leader and Party
Members;
24.5 keep under
review, and from time to time propose, in accordance with the provisions of
Schedule 9, amendments to this Constitution;
24.6 recommend to the
Board action that ensures the maintenance of an effective organisation
throughout the Country.
25
The National Conservative Convention shall meet at
least twice annually. The Leader and the Board shall be invited to attend its
meetings.
Schedule 3
THE
NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION
1
A meeting of the National Conservative Convention
(“the National Convention”) shall take place at least twice annually, and
arrangements for such meetings shall be organised and administered by the
elected officers of the National Conservative Convention.
2 At
the Annual Meeting of the National Convention not less than 42 days prior to
the close of ballot, the Secretary of the National Convention shall write to
all members of the National Convention
2.1 Inviting
nominations from the members of the National Convention for election of the
President & Conference Chairman and Chairman of the National Convention and
three Vice Presidents to the Board and stating the timetable for the election
of these officers
2.2 Stating the
date by which nominations must be returned, being not less than 14 clear days
from the date of the Notice.
2.3 Stating the
address to which the nominations must be returned.
2.4 Stating the
date by which ballot papers must be returned or online votes cast, being not
less than 14 clear days from the publication of the nominations received and
the opening of the ballot. The election to be concluded by 31 July each year.
3 Only those members of the
National Convention notified to the Secretary of the National Convention not
less than 28 days prior to the close of the ballot shall be entitled to vote.
4 Any nomination for any
such office or post referred to in Paragraph 2.1 herein must be submitted,
signed by not less than twelve members of the National Convention, of whom
eight must be Chairmen of Associations, or Constituency Officers, together with
a signed letter from the nominee accepting nomination. It is acceptable for
scanned copies of these documents to be sent to the Secretary by email.
5 Any
nominee for any such office or post referred to in Paragraph 2.1 herein shall
have been a Member of the National Convention for not less than the one year
preceding the date of close of nominations.
6 No
member of the National Convention may hold office
6.1 as one of the
elected representatives of the National Convention (other than as President or
Chairman) for more than five consecutive years;
6.2 as Chairman of
the National Convention for more than five consecutive years;
6.3 as President
for more than one year.
7. At
the National Convention Annual Meeting, the National Convention shall receive,
prior to elections, reports from the elected Officers of the National
Convention, such Area Management Executives and Recognised Organisations as the
National Convention shall determine. The National Convention shall also
consider any proposed changes to this Constitution in accordance with such
procedure as the National Convention shall determine.
8 The Secretary of the
National Convention shall act as Chief Returning Officer in any election at any
meeting of the National Convention.
9 Each member of the
National Convention shall have one vote only notwithstanding that that member’s
right to attend the National Convention derives from holding more than one
office or post.
10 Elections shall be held by
online secret ballot. The Secretary of the National Conservative Convention
shall provide for voting to take place by post in respect of any member for
whom there is no recorded email address.
11 Upon
a petition signed by not less than fifty Association Chairmen (or Constituency
Officers in the case of multi-constituency Associations) to the Secretary of
the National Convention, the Chairman of the National Convention shall call an
Extraordinary General Meeting of the National Convention.
12 The Secretary of the
National Convention shall give not less than 28 clear days notice of the
Extraordinary General Meeting in writing to all members of the National
Convention, together with an Agenda for the meeting.
13 Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the Board shall be advised of the rules governing the conduct of the National Convention elections and rules of Procedure to be adopted at the National Convention.
Schedule 8
THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY, THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE PARTY & THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONSERVATIVE PARTY
THE SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE & UNIONIST PARTY
1
Scottish Party Members are bound by the provisions of
the Constitution of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (“SCUP”).
Notwithstanding any other provision contained within this Constitution, the
SCUP and Scottish Party Members shall therefore have only the following rights
and obligations with respect to the Party within this Constitution:
1.1
The election of the Leader in accordance with the
provisions of Part III and Schedule 2 of this Constitution;
1.2
Participation in the National Conservative Convention
in accordance with the provisions of Part V and Schedule 3 of this
Constitution;
1.3
Participation in Party Conferences in accordance with
the provisions of Part X and Schedule 4 of this Constitution;
1.4
The maintenance of an Association in every
Parliamentary Constituency in Scotland;
2
In addition, in relation to matters relating to Ethics
and Integrity, the Ethics and Integrity Committee shall assume, in relation to
the conduct of any Scottish Party Member who is a Member of Parliament or an
adopted Parliamentary Candidate the same powers and responsibilities as are
contained in Part XII, subject to the following additional provisions:
2.1
The Ethics and Integrity Committee shall investigate
any matter referred to it by the Scottish Executive;
2.2
The Honorary Secretary of SCUP or their nominee shall
be a member of the Ethnics and Integrity
Committee
for the purposes of those cases in which the Ethics and Integrity
Committee
is investigating the conduct of any Scottish Party Member who is a Member of
Parliament or an adopted Parliamentary Candidate.
2.3
The Ethics and Integrity Committee shall conclude its
determination by reporting, in writing, to the Scottish Executive stating what
action, if any, is required.
2.4
Thereafter, the SCUP shall implement any action which
the Ethics and Integrity Committee has determined, which action shall be
unlimited.
3 There
shall be established and maintained in Wales The Welsh Conservative Party which
shall be managed by a Board (known as “The Board for Wales”) consisting
of:
3.1
A Chairman, to be known as “The Chairman of the Welsh
Conservative Party”,
3.2
A Treasurer who shall have responsibility for the
funds of the Welsh Conservative Party.
3.3
Two Deputy Chairmen
3.3.1 One of whom
shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation and
development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning in the
Principality (‘the Political Deputy Chairman’) and;
3.3.2 One of whom
shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and membership within the Principality (‘the Membership
Deputy Chairman’);
3.4
The Area Chairmen in Wales
3.5
The
Conservative Leader in the Welsh Assembly
3.6
The
Chairman of the Welsh Local Government Committee
3.7
The
Director for Wales (in a non-voting capacity).
3.8
The Secretary of State for Wales or Cabinet Member
responsible for Wales or when in opposition the Shadow Secretary of State for
Wales or the Shadow Cabinet Member responsible for Wales.
4. The
Chairman, Treasurer and Deputy Chairmen of the Welsh Conservative Party shall
be nominated for election and elected by members of the Party residing in Wales
and may not hold the same post for more than five consecutive years.
5. Rules
governing the management of and elections within the Welsh Conservative Party
shall be submitted to and approved by the Party members residing in Wales thereafter
any amendment to the said rules shall take place only with the approval of the Party
members residing in Wales. Such rules shall be consistent with this
Constitution.
THE
NORTHERN IRELAND CONSERVATIVE PARTY
6 There
shall be established and maintained in Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland
Conservative Party which shall be managed by a Board (known as “The Board for Northern
Ireland”) consisting of:
6.1
A Chairman, to be known as “The Chairman of the Northern
Ireland Conservative Party”,
6.2
A Treasurer who shall have responsibility for the
funds of the Northern
Ireland Conservative Party.
6.3 Two Deputy
Chairmen
6.3.1One
of whom shall have particular responsibility for co-ordinating the formulation
and development of policy ideas and initiatives and political campaigning in Northern
Ireland (‘the Political Deputy Chairman’) and;
6.3.2One
of whom shall have particular responsibility for fund-raising and
membership within Northern Ireland (‘the
Membership Deputy Chairman’);
6.4
The
Conservative Leader in the Northern Ireland Assembly
6.5 The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Local
Government Committee
6.6 The Director for Northern Ireland (in a
non-voting capacity).
6.7 The Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland or Cabinet Member responsible for Northern
Ireland or when in opposition the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland or the Shadow Cabinet Member responsible for Northern Ireland.
7. The
Chairman, Treasurer and Deputy Chairmen of the Northern Ireland Conservative
Party shall be nominated for election and elected by members of the Party
residing in Northern
Ireland and may not hold the same post for more than five consecutive
years.
8. Rules
governing the management of and elections within the Northern Ireland Conservative Party shall be submitted to and approved by the Party
members residing in Northern Ireland. Thereafter any amendment to the said
rules shall take place only with the approval of the Party members residing in Northern
Ireland. Such rules shall be consistent with this Constitution.
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