Young Conservatives (UK)

Last updated
Young Conservatives
Founded16 March 2018
Preceded by Conservative Future
Headquarters4 Matthew Parker Street, London SW1A
MembershipIncrease2.svg 15,000 members [1]
Ideology Conservatism (British) [2]
Economic liberalism
British unionism [3]
Colours  Blue
Mother party Conservative Party
International affiliation International Young Democrat Union [4]
European affiliation European Young Conservatives [5]
Website youth.conservatives.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Young Conservatives (YC) is the youth wing of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged 25 and under. The organisation shares the same values and policies as its parent political party with branches being an integrated part of local associations. College and university branches are not included, but run independently. [6]

Contents

History

Origins

The Junior Imperial and Constitutional League was formed in 1906 with objectives to encourage practical political work and organisation among young people in Britain. Junior Associations were set up in each Parliamentary Division and throughout the British Empire, co-operating closely with Conservative and Unionist Associations with an ambition to create Imperial unity and to further the Conservative and Unionist cause.

In 1925, the Young Britons Organisation was formed as the juvenile branch of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. It closed down during the Second World War.

After the Conservative Party suffered a catastrophic defeat in the 1945 general election, the Young Britons Organisation was reformed to cater for both boys and girls aged 6–16, while the Young Conservatives was set up to cater for an older age group.

Young Conservatives (1906–1998)

Young Conservatives fancy dress dance, mid 1950s Young Conservatives In Fancy Dress.jpg
Young Conservatives fancy dress dance, mid 1950s

The Young Conservatives attracted a large following and, by 1955, claimed a membership of 150,000. This made it the largest political youth movement in a liberal democracy,[ citation needed ] though not all its members were strongly motivated by politics. A large part of its appeal lay in its social activities that brought young people together in a socially safe environment. Countless middle-class British couples met at the "YCs" dances, rambles, and charity events in the 1950s. In the period between it published a magazine entitled Impact . [7] One large factor in the rapid decline in membership was the factionalism that gripped the movement in the early 1980s, first manifesting itself during Eric Pickles' chairmanship.[ citation needed ]

... his year in office was not without its difficulties. The radical right was a growing force in young Tory politics. The S.D.P. had recently been founded and disillusioned liberals in both the Labour and Conservative parties were deserting to the new "centre" party. At the Young Conservative's national conference in Eastbourne in February 1981, Pickles presided over a growing split in the ranks, particularly between northern "liberals" and southern "right-wingers". [8]

From that point onwards, a battle for leadership ensued between the moderates ('One Nation' Tories, termed 'Wets') and 'Drys' (Right-wingers from the Monday Club and Libertarians). The moderates attempted to play up the image problems the Young Monday Club and the Libertarians would present to the organisation. Publications such as the North West Area YC Rag Mag, the Sin, featured a page in 1985 attacking the Young Monday Club image. The 1989 Sin edition attempted to target the growing libertarian threat by featuring 'Loonie Libs.' [9]

The capture of the Young Conservatives by the 'Dries' in 1989 led to increasing image problems as the more right-wing stance became pilloried in the media. "The very term 'Young Conservative' has actually entered popular culture in a derogatory way being used by comedians to lampoon a certain type of person." [10] The BBC series A Bit of Fry and Laurie , featured a sketch entitled 'Young Conservative of the Year', the basis of which was an arrogant, right-wing and upper class Young Conservative competing in a mock contest on the reactionary and authoritarian content of his speech in a mock contest. In the BBC series Harry Enfield and Chums , Harry Enfield played a character called 'Tory Boy', an arrogant and reactionary right-wing Young Conservative.

Membership fell from a peak of 250,000 to just a few thousand, while the rival organisation Conservative Students claimed significantly more members. The end came in 1998 when Conservative leader William Hague announced the closure of Young Conservatives and the launch of a new organisation, Conservative Future. [11]

Past Chairmen

The National Chairmen of the Young Conservatives were associated with the moderate (One Nation - Tory Reform Group) tradition of the Conservative Party until the 1989 election, which resulted in the defeat of the moderate incumbent. Until then leadership had been from the Conservative party 'left' with only a couple of exceptions. Notable exceptions to the 'One Nation' moderate leadership were David Atkinson MP, who was a committed Christian campaigner and backer of corporal punishment, and Sir Fergus Montgomery MP, a supporter of apartheid South Africa and another corporal punishment advocate. Otherwise, the YCs produced a long line of Tory reformers, until the moderate faction was finally defeated in the late 1980s, although Clive Landa's defeat of Christopher Horne (the chairman of the Hyde Park Tories) in the 1973 election in Greater London was far closer than was expected, even by the supporters of both candidates. [12] [13]

Past Vice Chairmen

A large number of Vice Chairmen have gone on to other prominent positions in the Party and hold public office at local and national level. These include: Patrick McLoughlin MP, Robert Atkins MP, Kenneth Lane, Anthea McIntyre MEP and Robin Squire MP.

Conservative Future (1998–2016)

In 1998, Conservative Future was launched as the new youth wing following major reforms by William Hague, who was elected as the honorary president of Conservative Future in 2012. By 2006, it was the largest political organisation on British campuses, [14] and the estimated membership, including members on campuses and through constituency associations, may once have totalled 20,000. [15]

On 19 November 2015, the entire executive of the organisation was suspended, and the youth wing taken under direct control by the Conservative Party. [16] The national Conservative Future was eventually disbanded; however, Conservative Future Scotland continued to function.

Young Conservatives (2018–present)

In 2018, following the appointment of Ben Bradley as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for youth and with a focus on young members, the party announced at its spring forum it was relaunching a youth branch under the original name 'Young Conservatives'. [17]

The structure of Young Conservative branches will be integrated with local Associations and into the wider voluntary party with officers being elected by members of the association.[ when? ] University YC branches will operate independently. The organisation aims to increase youth ownership and engagement in local associations by focusing on activities which are tangible for the success of the party. After the publication of the Chequers Brexit white paper Ben Bradley tendered his resignation [18] as Vice Chairman for youth and was subsequently succeeded by Tom Pursglove. Pursglove was replaced by Nigel Huddleston in February 2019, and Pursglove was replaced by Andrew Bowie in July 2019 after Boris Johnson took office. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monday Club</span> Political pressure group in the UK

The Conservative Monday Club was a British political pressure group, aligned with the Conservative Party, though no longer endorsed by it. It also had links to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tory Reform Group</span> British Conservative Party pressure group

The Tory Reform Group (TRG) is a pressure group associated with the British Conservative Party that works to promote "modern, progressive Conservatism... economic efficiency and social justice" and "a Conservatism that supports equality, diversity and civil liberties", values sometimes associated with Harold Macmillan's "Middle Way" or what the group consider a moderate one-nation conservatism. Senior figures include Michael Heseltine, Douglas Hurd, Kenneth Clarke, and Chris Patten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Pickles</span> British Conservative politician

Eric Jack Pickles, Baron Pickles, is a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brentwood and Ongar from 1992 to 2017. He served in David Cameron's Cabinet as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2010 to 2015. He previously served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2009 to 2010 and was later the United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion from 2015 to 2017.

Conservative Future (CF) was the youth movement of the Conservative Party in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The organisation was made up of all members of the Conservative Party who were 30 years old or younger.

The Federation of Conservative Students (FCS) was the student organisation of the British Conservative Party from the late 1940s to 1986. It was created to act as a bridge between the student movement and the Conservative Party. It produced several magazines, and had regular Assembly meetings in which motions would be voted on. It had supported some controversial actions, such as the legalisation of various drugs, and the privatisation of the Trident nuclear missiles. There was continual tension between central party, which funded the organisation, and the Federation – which often used the funds on exploring unconventional policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Boles</span> British politician (born 1965)

Nicholas Edward Coleridge Boles is a British politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Grantham and Stamford from 2010 to 2019. He was a member of the Conservative Party until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Liberals of Canada</span>

The Young Liberals of Canada (YLC) is the national youth wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. All members of the Liberal Party aged 25 and under are automatically members of the YLC. The Young Liberals of Canada are an official commission of the Liberal Party and the largest youth political organization in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Bone</span> British politician (born 1952)

Peter William Bone is a British former politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellingborough from 2005 until his removal in 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he had sat as an independent in the House of Commons after the Conservative whip was withdrawn from him in 2023, until he was removed by a recall petition in December of that year. He campaigned for Brexit in the EU referendum and was part of the political advisory board of Leave Means Leave. From July to September 2022, he served as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wets and dries</span> Faction in the British Conservative Party

Wets and dries are British political terms that refer to opposing factions within the Conservative Party. The terms originated in the 1980s during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher: those who opposed some of Thatcher's more hard-line policies were often referred to by their opponents as "wets"; in response, supporters of Thatcher were referred to as "dries".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Conservatives</span> Part of the British Conservative Party

The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party is part of the UK Conservative Party active in Scotland. It holds 5 of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons, 31 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and comprises 209 of Scotland's 1,227 local councilors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Britons' Foundation</span>

The Young Britons' Foundation, abbreviated to YBF, was a British conservative not-for-profit training, education and research think-tank, established in July 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Fuller (Conservative politician)</span> British politician (born 1962)

Richard Quentin Fuller is a British politician who has served as the interim Chairman of the Conservative Party since July 2024. He previously served as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury from July to October 2022. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for North Bedfordshire, formerly North East Bedfordshire, since 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he represented Bedford from 2010 to 2017. He had previously achieved prominence as leader of the Young Conservatives from 1985 to 1987.

John Guthrie is a British political activist formerly involved in the youth section of the Conservative Party and a former employee of Conservative Central Office. He has been active in Bedford politics and run for mayoral office.

Iain Sutherland Picton was a political activist in the Conservative Party, representing the One Nation tradition Toryism, and a television producer.

Youth for Multilateral Disarmament was a campaigning organisation set up by the National Young Conservatives to counter Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) activities with young voters. The National Chairman of the Young Conservatives, Iain Picton, tasked Vice Chairman, Phil Pedley with the creation of a front organisation to highlight the perceived naivety of unilateral disarmament given the hostile nature of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. The campaign included support for the siting of cruise missiles in the UK to counter Soviet SS 20 missiles.

Philip Pedley is a British Conservative activist who held a number of positions in the Conservative Party at local, regional and national level and was appointed Deputy Chairman of one of the largest quangos in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Pursglove</span> British politician (born 1988)

Thomas Christopher John Pursglove is a British Conservative Party politician who served as Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border from December 2023 to July 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Corby from May 2015 until 2024 when he was defeated.

Mark Clarke is a British former Conservative Party parliamentary candidate who was director of the now-defunct Young Britons' Foundation, as well as a chairman of Conservative Future, and ex-director of the Road Trip electioneering organisation that bussed Conservative party activists to marginal seats during the 2015 general election campaign. Clarke was suspended from the party on 24 September 2015, following the suicide of Conservative activist Elliott Johnson who had claimed that Clarke had bullied him.

Activate was a British political organisation, which described itself as a seeking to engage young people in centre-right politics. It was founded in August 2017 by young members of the Conservative Party. It had been compared to the left-wing group Momentum. The organisation was shut down on 31 May 2018 after less than 12 months.

References

  1. ↑ "Young Conservatives".
  2. ↑ "Capping welfare and working to control immigration". Conservatives.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. ↑ McConnel, James. "Irish Home Rule: An imagined future". BBC.
  4. ↑ "Members". 8 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Members". European Young Conservatives. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "It's not enough for the Young Conservatives to be worthy – they must be fun". Conservative Home. 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  7. ↑ Z. Layton-Henry (April 1973). "The Young Conservatives 1945-70". Journal of Contemporary History. 8 (2): 143–156. doi:10.1177/002200947300800207. S2CID   154974714.
  8. ↑ The Pickles Papers (1989) ISBN   0 948994 04 5
  9. ↑ torypartyarchives (3 July 2014). "The Sin". Torypartyarchives.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  10. ↑ "Matthew Lamb Phd Thesis" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  11. ↑ "Tories ditch Young Conservatives". BBC News. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Obituary: David Atkinson". Daily Telegraph. 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  13. ↑ "Sir Fergus Montgomery: Right-wing MP who served as Thatcher's PPS 20 March 2013" . Independent. 2013-03-20. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  14. ↑ Bryony Gordon (4 October 2006). "Forget Tory Boy, Conservatives are now cool". The Daily Telegraph .
  15. ↑ Rowenna Davis (6 October 2009). "The restrained children of Cameron". The Guardian .
  16. ↑ "18/11/2015, Newsnight - BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  17. ↑ Yorke, Harry (16 March 2018). "Conservative youth wing relaunched in bid to win back millennials from Labour". The Telegraph.
  18. ↑ "Two Conservative vice chairs resign in protest at Theresa May's Brexit plan" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  19. ↑ Cowburn, Ashley (12 February 2019). "Conservatives appoint 48-year-old MP as youth spokesman" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07. Retrieved 26 November 2019.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.