Letter to the Prime Minister - Conservative Objects and Values

 

Campaign for Conservative Democracy

C. O. P. O. V - CONSERVATIVE ONE PERSON ONE VOTE

 

The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak M.P,                                                          21^st  December 2023

10 Downing Street,

Westminster,

London SW1A 2AA

 

 Dear Prime Minister,  

Conservative Objects and Values

The Conservative Party Constitution emphasizes the  objects and values of the Party:

 

“PART 1 NAME, PURPOSE OBJECTS AND VALUES This is the Constitution of a political party which shall be known as “The Conservative and Unionist Party” (referred to in this Constitution as “the Party”).  .  1          Its purpose is to sustain and promote within the Nation the objects and values of the Conservative Party.   PART II MEMBERSHIP The Party is a political Party for the Nation, open to all who share its objects and values and who undertake to be bound by this Constitution.”

Nowhere within the Constitution does it state what the objects and values are!

Many loyal members of our Conservative Party, and perhaps more importantly, the General Public are no longer clear exactly in what the Conservative Party believes.  We feel it is imperative that our Party’s objects and values are clearly outlined so that it will help the Conservative Party win the next General Election.

  It has become apparent during 2023 that many Conservative voters are staying at home and not voting. We believe that a reminder of Conservative objects and values will give our supporters good reason to turn out and vote for Conservative candidates.

 The attached document has been developed with that in mind. The statement is concise and expounds what we believe is the central core of the Conservative Party  It has been seen and endorsed by the Campaign for Conservative Democracy, and we hope that you will approve it and incorporate it within the Party’s Constitution.  A copy is also being sent to Richard Holden MP as Chairman of the Conservative Party,  John Penrose MP as Chairman of the CPF,  Peter Booth, Chairman of the National Convention and Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee  

 We want the Conservative Party to win the next General Election.   We want the Party’s message to be clear and concise and hope you will agree this document will clarify both for Party members and the general public what are the Party’s objects and values.

 Yours sincerely,

 JOHN E STRAFFORD

Chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy

 

c.c. Richard Holden Esq MP;  John Penrose Esq MP;  Peter Booth Esq, and Sir Graham Brady MP

.

 

            

Choosing Parliamentary Candidates - Due Diligence

 A meeting at UCL on how the different parties select their parliamentary candidates.  What about Due Diligence?  Includes the Labour and Conservative parties with Michael Crick.   Starting 45 minutes in.

Don't miss the start of the questions and answers! 

December 16th 2023 COPOV Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Forum and Annual General Meeting

 Come and join us for debate and discussion about the future of the Conservative Party.   See Events  on the right for full details or Click Here

Date for your diary 16th December 2023

 The next Campaign for Conservative Democracy meeting will be held on 16th December at 10.30 am at All Saints Church Hall, Oval Way, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. SL9 8PZ - Mulled wine and mince pies Forum! Details to follow!

Questions and Answers about the Selection of Conservative Party Candidates

 This is the questions and answers session at the Conservative Party Conference fringe meeting held on October 3 2023 organised by the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and the Conservative Democratic Organisation.

View here

Suella Braverman and the Tory grass roots!

 

Tory grassroots back Suella Braverman in Gaza protest row

One Tory activist suggested that ’90 per cent of Conservative Party members’ agree with her comments

By Eleanor Langford, Hugo Gye

November 9, 2023 4:10 pm(Updated 7:08 pm)

Grassroots Conservatives say Suella Braverman is a “real contender” for the Conservative leadership amid ongoing anger over her hardline rhetoric.

It comes after the Home Secretary last week promised to ban charities from handing out tents to homeless people, and yesterday compared disagreements over Israel’s war in Gaza with sectarian battles in Northern Ireland.

Despite her future in Cabinet appearing to hang in the balance, many Conservative activists have claimed she still represents “true conservative values”.

John Stafford, who is involved in both the Conservative Democratic Organisation and Campaign for Conservative Democracy, said her comments had broad support among party members.

He told i: “I think that what she has said is probably agreed by 90 per cent of Conservative Party members, who are utterly frustrated at the wokeness of the government…

“What she’s saying, I’m quite convinced that grassroots party members would agree with.”

Mr Stafford, who has been involved with the party for almost 60 years, said there was a huge gap between the Conservatives in Parliament and grassroots members.

“The ordinary members of the party are totally frustrated at the way in which many of the parliamentary party do not implement and stand up for conservative principles,” he said.

“One of those principles is, of course, a strong approach to law and order, and grassroots members feel that the parliamentary party too often takes a backseat on this issue.”

A Conservative source who is close to grassroots activists also told i that Ms Braverman was “providing leadership where it is sorely lacking from No 10”.

“Her courage in saying what needs to be said on immigration control and Hamas marches is refreshing,” they said.

“She will need to work on her campaigning style and personal appeal, but she is a real contender. As a Centre Right candidate, she would be a strong candidate.”

But other grassroot Tories said Ms Braverman’s rhetoric risked putting off voters. One Tory councillor told i that he believed many “broadly moderate” Conservative voters would be put off by her “inflammatory language”.

“There are many that will not vote for the party if she stays in her post. The party risks alienating many of their members,” they added.

Another Tory councillor said they agreed with her comments on preventing protests on Remembrance Sunday, but added: “Personally, and many I speak to, think she’s just trying to get sacked to propel her next leadership bid.

“I find it distasteful.”

The Home Secretary’s future in the Cabinet seems precarious after No 10 admitted that her comments in a piece published by The Times had not been signed off.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described Ms Braverman as “out of control”, while Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to sack her.

But Mr Stafford warned that removing Ms Braverman would mean “despair among grassroots would just increase from what it is already”.

“There are about half a dozen members of Cabinet which they really strongly support, including Suella Braverman who they feel are putting forward conservative views,” he said.

“If they lost one of those few people that are putting forward their views, that would just increase their despair at the way in which the party’s going.”

 

What the process should be for the Selection of Conservative Parliamentary Candidates.

 A speech given by John Strafford at a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party Conference on October 3rd 2023 organised by the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and the Conservative Democratic Organisation.   The speech sets out the process agreed at the Conservative Democratic conference in May 2023.   To see click Here!

"History of the Selection of Conservative Party Candidates"

 Speech given by John Strafford on 3 October 2023 at a fringe meeting of the Tory Conference organised by the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and the Conservative Democratic Organisation.

See Here to view the speech

Conservative Conference - Dates for your diary - updated

 CONFERENCE FRINGE PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED!!! 

Venue for the meetings: Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS

MESSAGE FROM CDO PARTY CHAIRMAN, David Campbell Bannerman

 Dear CDO Members,

 RE: CDO FRINGE PROGRAMME NOW ANNOUNCED!

I am delighted to let you know that as well as the excellent Black Tie Gala Dinner coming together so well for Sunday 1st October (don’t be disappointed – please book now as selling out fast!) we can now announce an impressive Fringe.

CDO is offering a full Conference Fringe Programme, and we can now reveal the details. All these events are hosted in what we are calling the ‘Democracy Zone’, which we are sponsoring, in cooperation with the Bruges Group.

This is our Fringe:

Monday 2nd October 6pm to 7.30pm – we are honoured to be hosting one of our CDO Patrons, and now a TV star presenter through GB News and the ‘State of the Nation’ Programme, Jacob Rees Mogg MP to talk about the importance of democracy to the Conservative Party. This will be at 6pm-7.30pm Monday, with questions afterwards. Jacob as you know is a highly principled and intelligent MP who served as Business Secretary and was Chairman of the ERG (European Research Group) at a key moment. Chaired by David Campbell Bannerman.

Tuesday 3rd October 11am to 12.30pm – ‘Selection of Candidates – All You Need to Know’ – Joint session with COPOV (Campaign for One Member One Vote). A Question and Answer briefing session useful for those standing as candidates or those involved or interested in selecting candidates, especially Parliamentary candidates. Hosted by Constitutional Expert John Strafford, Chairman of COPOV and CDO’s Constitutional Adviser, and CDO’s Mike Rouse, who has overseen a number of candidate selections and is an expert on the rules of Candidate Selection. 

Tuesday 3rd October 1pm to 2.30pm – ‘How Democracy can save Conservatism’. Panel session with top journalists Allison Pearson a senior columnist at the Daily Telegraph, Author and Presenter, Emily Carver, Presenter with GB News and formerly of IEA, and our CDO Patron Priti Patel MP, former Home Secretary, International Development Secretary, Employment and Treasury Minister and a great believer in backing the members. Chaired by David Campbell Bannerman.

NOTE: These fringe meetings are all outside the Party Conference area, so that means you do not need a Conference security pass to get there. Which may save you quite a bit of cost; especially at this late stage. You can just turn up and support us there. If you do have a pass, the venue is very close to the Conference Centre so it is easy to pop in and out of Conference to attend.

Please do support CDO at these four major events at Conference – it is important to show backing for our aims and objectives to take back control of the party democratically and to support our excellent Patrons, supporters and members. I look forward to seeing you there!

Best wishes

 David

David Campbell Bannerman

Latest Conservative Democratic Organisation Newsletter - See John Strafford speech to 1997 Party Conference.

 See here the latest Newsletter from the Conservative Democratic Organisation.   It includes a link to John Strafford's speech to the 1997 Party Conference.   As relevant today as it was then!