Another fine mess! CCHQ

 

Another Fine Mess! 

 

On 28th February I received the following email from CCHQ Membership department.   This was the first reminder of my membership subscription.   To date no membership certificate has arrived in spite of the fact that having telephoned CCHQ immediately I paid by Barclaycard.   Incidentally, in the old days before CCHQ got involved with Party membership members were always given 3 months grace to renew their subscription before having their membership cancelled! 

“We’re contacting you regarding your membership of The Conservative Party. Unfortunately, we have been unable to process your last payment. 

There are many possible reasons for this. For example, you may have received a new card from your bank, or your card or bank mandate may have recently expired. 

To update your payment information, please contact us as soon as possible. That way, we can ensure your continued membership. 

You can get in touch by calling us on 020 7984 8036, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Remember to quote your membership number: ********* 

If you do not update your payment information before 09/03/2024, your membership will be automatically cancelled. 

Please note, we may have already sent a membership certificate to your address – please do not take that as confirmation of payment. 

Thank you for all that you do as a member. Your support is vital to our success.” 

 

Imagine my surprise when I received the following email on 15th March.   I await with deepest breadth as to what happens next. Is there any competent department at CCHQ?.   Perhaps an elected Party Chairman accountable to the members would sort it out!  

 

Dear John 

Your membership renewal is coming up 24/02/2024 but don’t worry – you’re set to renew automatically. 

Your payment plan for your next membership year is: 

Standard Membership for Beaconsfield

£39.00

Your next payment of £39.00 will be taken around 24/02/2024. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

If you require any assistance, please contact the CCHQ Membership Team  

Kind regards, 

 
 
Sean Duckworth 
Head of Membership 

 

Conservative Party - another rule bites the dust

 In the late 1940s under the Chairmanship of Lord Woolton the Conservative Party brought in several reforms in its desire for equality.   David Maxwell Fyffe introduced the reforms, amongst which was to:

"Limit the amount of money a Member of Parliament could donate to his Constituency Association to £100."

This was done in order to stop the practise of wealthy people buying seats.   It led to the first Conservative trade unionist becoming an MP.

 We now find that Jeremy Hunt MP has given, over the last five years, no less than £105,261 to his local constituency party in Surrey  according to the Electoral Commission.

So when was the convention about £100 changed?

A Question to the Conservative Party Chairman! What was his reply?

 Putting a question to Richard Holden MP, Conservative Party Chairman, on 22 February 2024, at the excellent Chesham and Amersham Association dinner The question was: Under the Conservative Party Constitution it states that "The Leader shall determine the political direction of the Party having regard to the views of Party members and the Conservative Policy Forum" Now that there are no longer motions for debate at the Party Conference how does the Leader get the views of the ordinary Party Members? Needless to say I did not get an answer, although the Party Chairman said "What a great question!" and then proceeded to talk only about the Conservative Policy Forum!

Therese Coffey MP - are we governed by an oligarchy?

 Question to Therese Coffey MP at the Institute of Government on 19 February 2024 - watch from 42 minutes in!

The start of something big!

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.strafford/videos/1049861536314585?idorvanity=165369683084 

Weary Tories Sense PopCon Is An "Early Marker" In Battle For The Party's Soul (politicshome.com)

Conservative Party Objects and Values - Sir Graham Brady replies!

 

Thank You Sir Graham!

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!