Conservatives Abroad

Last updated
Conservatives Abroad
President Rishi Sunak
ChairmanHeather Harper MBE
Founded1986
Headquarters Conservative Campaign HQ
4 Matthew Parker Street,London, SW1H 9HQ ,England
Ideology Conservatism (British)
British unionism
Political position Centre-right
National affiliation Conservative Party
Website
conservativesabroad.org

Conservatives Abroad is the British Conservative Party's global network of members and supporters living overseas.

Contents

Conservatives Abroad has members and groups around the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. While some countries have just one Conservatives Abroad group, some countries are represented by a number of different groups based in different areas, particularly when a country is large and Conservative overseas Britons are spread out such as Australia, France, Spain, and the USA.

History

While some overseas Conservative groups had been active since the 1970s, Conservatives Abroad was not formally created until 1985. Its purpose is to keep Conservative supporters who are temporarily or permanently living abroad in touch with domestic politics in the United Kingdom, to campaign for the votes of the overseas British community, and increase the number of overseas registered voters in those communities. Sir James Spicer MP was appointed as its first Chairman.

Conservatives Abroad also serves its members' interests by raising issues and concerns facing Britons living overseas with politicians, [1] and by lobbying to reform overseas voting laws. [2] While the party leader is usually president of Conservatives Abroad, the individual local groups are represented and governed by a group representative.

Campaigns

Conservatives Abroad have led the 'Votes for Life' campaign to allow British citizens living around the world to maintain their right to vote in British General Elections and reverse restrictions brought in by the Labour Government in 2000. As a result, this became a commitment in successive Conservative Party manifestos but its progress was blocked by the Liberal Democrats during the 2010-2015 Coalition Government. Finally, after the 2019 General Election, the measure was able to pass Parliament as part of the Elections Act 2022, thus re-enfranchising an estimated 3.4 million potential voters. [3]

Worldwide groups

Conservatives Abroad operate a global network of local groups. Originally it operated 35 active groups operating in 21 countries around the world, however, this figure has since grown. [4]

Countries and territories

Country / TerritoriesNo. of GroupsLocal Groups
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4 Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 1
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 1
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands 1
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 3 Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 1
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 1
Flag of France.svg  France 4 Paris, South West, South of France, Normandy
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2 Berlin, Frankfurt
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 1
Flag of Guernsey.svg  Guernsey 1
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1
Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man 1
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 1
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 1
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 1
Flag of India.svg  India 1
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 1
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 1
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
Flag of Jersey.svg  Jersey 1
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1
Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 1
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 1
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 1
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 3 Basel, Geneva, Zurich
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2 Cape Town, Johannesburg
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 5 Costa del Sol, Jávea, Madrid, Mallorca, Tenerife
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 1
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 2 Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 7 California, Florida, Chicago, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, D.C. [5]

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References

  1. Roberts, Elizabeth (September 2014). "Tories pledge to give vote back to all expats".
  2. "About | Conservatives". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  3. "History of the Votes for Life Campaign?". 21 June 2022.
  4. "Michael Rutt: What is Conservatives Abroad?".
  5. "Find your local group".