University of York Conservative and Unionist Association

Last updated

University of York Conservative and Unionist Association
AbbreviationUYCUA
NicknameYork Tories
FormationMichaelmas 1963
TypeUniversity political society
Headquarters Derwent College
Location
  • University of York
Chairman
Henry Smith, Constantine College
Vice-Chairman
Dylan Cassap, Halifax College
Treasurer
Jeremy Hehir, Goodricke College
Secretary
Jacob Boneham, Anne Lister College
Website York Tories
Formerly called
University of York Conservative Association

The University of York Conservative and Unionist Association, known more commonly as the York Tories, is a student conservative association founded in 1963 and based at the University of York. While it is independent from the national Conservative Party, it is affiliated and does share some events. It is affiliated with the University of York Students' Union.

Contents

Events

The association hosts a variety of events, some of a political nature, for members to attend, with events being held on the Wednesday and Friday during the term. Traditionally, events have not been held during the exam period of the summer term, but more relaxed events have been held anyway.[ citation needed ]

The Wednesday events are the social events, and tend to be pub crawls, chase pub crawls, as well as the termly Port & Policy and Pint & Policy. The Friday events tend to be calmer, and sometimes intellectual. These events can be movie nights, debates, quizzes, board games, speakers, and dinners. Sometimes these events end at the curry house 'The Garden of India', which has developed a close relationship with the association. [1]

Port & Policy is the most popular of the associations events. Unlike some conservative associations who charge for attendance, membership of the association merits free port. Recordings of any variety is strictly forbidden, which allows serious debate to occur without fear of retribution. Motions are collected by the secretary, then proposed and considered throughout the evening, and then individually voted on. Member vote for, against, or abstain. The evening concludes with all motions that passed being repeated to the members, which are then voted on to decide which is the most popular.[ citation needed ]

The association has a close relationship with northern university conservative associations, namely the Durham University Conservative and Unionist Association, the Newcastle Conservative Society, and Northumbria University Conservative Society. This is epitomised in the annual Primrose Dinner, hosted by the Newcastle Conservative Society in The Northern Counties Private Members Club. [2]

History

Under the chairmanship of Harvey Proctor, the association hosted Enoch Powell twice, with both occasions requiring a large police operation to protect the event from protesters over the Rivers of Blood speech. [3] The association also became involved with the 'pirate' radio station Radio 270, making political broadcasts and interviewing politicians. [4] [5]

In 1996 the association's website was hacked to include explicit images and fictional accounts of meetings, as well as verbally attacking the Conservative Party. The Conservative Central Party launched an investigation to establish how these changes occurred. [6]

In 2013 the Fox Hunt chase pub crawl had to be abandoned due to backlash against the theme and fears of members safety. [7] The annual event saw men encouraged to dress as hunters and women to dress as foxes, with the hunters 'hunting' the foxes across various York bars, but was accused of being sexist and ignoring animal rights. [8] [9] The University of York Vegetarian and Vegan Society (VegSoc) encouraged members to turn up to the event to protest against it, as well as bringing red paint. [10] The association was concerned that members would be assaulted with this red paint, as well as with deodorant, food dye and chloroform. [8] Members of the association's committee also rejected the accusation of sexism on the basis that the dress code was voluntary, and in previous events a majority of attendees were women. Threats were also made by members of the University of York Feminists (FemSoc). [10] The chairman of VegSoc rejected that individual's views reflect those of VegSoc or FemSoc, but ultimately supported the cancellation of the event. Ultimately the social was planned to go ahead following discussions between YUSU officers and members of the association which reached a compromise, but pressure from the national press forced the event to be cancelled. [8] The event was revived in 2013 under the new Events Officer, with the new format of members chasing committee. [11]

In 2014, the Hagueathon was criticised out of concern that it encouraged binge drinking. [12] The association rejected these accusations and continued to hold the termly event. [13]

In 2017, controversy arose when the association invite the Conservative MP Philip Davies to give a talk. Opposition centred around past statements of his being labelled as 'misogynistic'. In response to backlash on social media, the association stated 'We are pleased to further the cause of two of the cornerstones of our nation: freedom of speech and freedom of expression.' [14] Some students reported that they would take the opportunity provided by this event to challenge Davies on his views. [15]

Robert Ward, the chairman in 2018, signed a letter in The Daily Telegraph to the then prime minister, Theresa May, calling on her to stop pursuing the Chequers Plan. [16]

In 2020, the Fox Hunt caused further controversy. On this occasion, the Conservative Party publicly condemned the event. [11]

Plans to hold a dinner with Desmond Swayne in 2022 were halted after the YUSU BAME Network released a statement condemning the event. [17] Concerns specifically focused on comments Desmond had made in support of black face, and had that could present a hostile environment to incoming BAME students. [18]

Organisation

The association is led by the committee, elected by an AGM at the end of the Winter Term. It manages all of the business and events, and broadly represents the association. The positions on the committee and their office-holders can be changed by constitutional amendments at EGMs. All committee members are required to be members of the association.

The 2023-2024 committee consists of the following members:

The association also elects an Honorary President, an Honorary Vice-President, and three Honorary Members for Life at its AGM. By convention, all former chairman automatically become Honorary Member for life. The current Honorary President is Princess Anne and the Honorary Vice-President is Rory Stewart.

Traditions

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Brady</span> British politician (born 1967)

Sir Graham Stuart Brady is a British politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Altrincham and Sale West since 1997. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Chairman of the 1922 Committee since 2010, except for a brief period during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Cormack</span> British politician (1939–2024)

Patrick Thomas Cormack, Baron Cormack, was a British politician, historian, journalist and author. He served as a member of Parliament (MP) for 40 years, from 1970 to 2010. Cormack was a member of the Conservative Party and was seen as a one-nation conservative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Winterton</span> British politician

Sir Nicholas Raymond Winterton is a retired British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Macclesfield from 1971 until he retired from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Fabricant</span> British politician (born 1950)

Sir Michael Louis David Fabricant is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lichfield in Staffordshire, formerly Mid Staffordshire, since 1992.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Proctor</span> British former politician

Keith Harvey Proctor is a British former Conservative Member of Parliament. A member of the Monday Club, he represented Basildon from 1979 to 1983 and Billericay from 1983 to 1987. Proctor became embroiled in a scandal involving sexual relationships with males under 21 which culminated in criminal convictions and ended his parliamentary career. He was later one of those accused by Carl Beech of being part of an abuse ring, something which Harvey utterly denied. In 2016, the investigations into Proctor concluded and found the accusations to be baseless. Proctor was subsequently paid £900,000 in compensation for victimization through the botched Operation Midland. His experience has seen him lead efforts to protect those in the public eye from unfair attacks by the media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Hands</span> British Conservative politician (born 1965)

Gregory William Hands is a British politician serving as Minister for London and Minister of State for Trade Policy since November 2023. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelsea and Fulham, previously Hammersmith and Fulham, since 2005. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as its Chairman from February to November 2023. Hands has served as Minister of State for Trade Policy under four prime ministers, holding the office on four occasions, and also served as Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Ellwood</span> British politician, soldier and author

Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Martin Ellwood is a British Conservative Party politician and soldier who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bournemouth East since 2005. He chaired the Defence Select Committee from 2020 to 2023, and was Minister for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel at the Ministry of Defence from 2017 to 2019. Prior to his political career, Ellwood served in the Royal Green Jackets and reached the rank of captain. He transferred to the Army Reserve and has gone on to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 77th Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Walker (British politician)</span> British Conservative politician

Sir Charles Ashley Rupert Walker is a British politician who served as chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee from 2012 to 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Broxbourne in Hertfordshire since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Conservative Party leadership election</span>

The 2005 Conservative Party leadership election was called by party leader Michael Howard on 6 May 2005, when he announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the Conservative Party in the near future following the party's third successive general election defeat. However, he stated that he would not depart until a review of the rules for the leadership election had been conducted, given the high level of dissatisfaction with the current system. Ultimately, no changes were made and the election proceeded with the existing rules, which were introduced in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syed Kamall</span> British politician (born 1967)

Syed Salah Kamall, Baron Kamall is a British politician and academic, who from September to October 2022 served in HM Government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. He was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care (2021–22).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Prior, Baron Prior of Brampton</span>

David Gifford Leathes Prior, Baron Prior of Brampton is the former chairman of NHS England and chairman of University College Hospital. He served as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for North Norfolk from 1997 until the 2001 general election, when he lost his seat to Norman Lamb of the Liberal Democrats by 483 votes. In 2015, he was appointed as a life peer in the House of Lords.

The Cambridge University Conservative Association, or CUCA, is a student political society founded 1921, as a Conservative Association for students at Cambridge University, although it has earlier roots in the late nineteenth century. CUCA is not affiliated with the nationwide youth branch of the Conservative Party, the Young Conservatives, but is a fully independent Association distinct from other Conservative youth organisations. The association puts on a range of events for its members each term, notably its ‘Port & Policy’ debates, as well as addresses from a number of high-profile speakers.

LGBT+ Conservatives is an organisation for LGBT conservatism in the United Kingdom. It is affiliated and is the official LGBT wing of the Conservative Party. The current advocacy group can trace its roots back to the Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality which was later renamed the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality. The group was eventually disbanded and the new LGBTory group was formed, changing its name in 2016 to LGBT+ Conservatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Metcalfe (politician)</span> British Conservative politician

Stephen James Metcalfe is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, who was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Basildon and East Thurrock in 2010. He has served as the chairman of the Science and Technology Select Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Whittaker</span> British politician (born 1962)

Craig Whittaker is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Calder Valley since 2010. He served as Government Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of the Household from September to October 2022. He previously served as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from January 2018 to April 2019 and again from July to September 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Halfon</span> British Conservative politician (born 1969)

Robert Henry Halfon is a British Conservative Party politician, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Harlow since 2010.

The Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) is a student Conservative association founded in 1924, whose members are drawn from the University of Oxford. Since October 2009, OUCA has been affiliated with Conservative Future and its successor, the Young Conservatives, the Conservative Party youth wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nottingham University Conservative Association</span> University political society

Nottingham University Conservative Association (NUCA) is a student Conservative association, whose members are drawn from the University of Nottingham. NUCA is affiliated to the University of Nottingham Students' Union, in addition to the Nottingham Conservative Federation and East Midlands Area Council. The Honorary President is Rt. Hon. John Hayes MP PC FRSA. Past Honorary Presidents include Jonathan Guinness, Lord Carr of Hadley, R. A. Butler and His Grace the Duke of Rutland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Milling</span> British politician (born 1975)

Dame Amanda Anne Milling is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Cannock Chase since the 2015 general election. She served as Minister without Portfolio in the UK cabinet and, alongside Ben Elliot, as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party from February 2020 to September 2021. She also served as Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East from September 2021 to September 2022. She previously worked in market research.

References

  1. ↑ "Events". The York Tories. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.[ additional citation(s) needed ]
  2. ↑ Clark, Joshua. "Northumbria and Newcastle Universities Conservative Societies Primrose Dinner with Michael Gove". IR&Politics@NorthumbriaUni. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Harvey Proctor, Keith (2016). Credible and True. Biteback Publishing. pp. 37–38. ISBN   978-1-78590-001-3.
  4. ↑ "Radio 270 remembered". offshoreradio. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Harvey Proctor, Keith (2016). Credible and True. Biteback Publishing. p. 34. ISBN   978-1-78590-001-3.
  6. ↑ "Hacker adds porn and mockery to Major's Internet message". The Times . 19 August 1996. p. 2.
  7. ↑ "York University's 'Sexist' Tory Fox Hunting Social Cancelled Following Chloroform Threats". Huffington Post. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Baker, Anwen (7 November 2013). "Tory fox hunting social cancelled". Nouse . Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Gevertz, Jack (4 October 2016). "I went on the notorious Tory student 'Badger Culling Social' to investigate whether it was 'vile' or harmless student fun" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  10. 1 2 Horton, Helena (6 November 2013). "York Conservative society forced to cancel its annual "fox hunting" event". Independent. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013.
  11. 1 2 Walker, Patrick (21 January 2020). "Conservative Party CONDEMN York Tory social". Nouse . Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Lyons, James (5 March 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Young Tories organise 14 pint "Hagueathon" booze binge in honour of Foreign Secretary". Daily Mirror . Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Gevertz, Jack; Benson, Charlie (18 November 2014). "Tories hold secret 'Hagueathon'... But we find out anyway". York Vision . Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Woolfe, Sam (8 September 2017). "Students are outraged at a 'misogynistic' MP being invited to speak at their university". The Canary. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Harvey, Jack (6 September 2017). "York Tories under fire for inviting "the most misogynistic MP" to campus". The Yorker. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Letters: Sticking with the Chequers plan would be a betrayal of the Brexit vote". The Daily Telegraph . 30 September 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  17. ↑ Smith, Emily (28 September 2022). "University of York Tories plan to host MP who has previously been pictured in blackface". The Tab . Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Boyle, Hannah; Barlow, Juliette (8 October 2022). "Emilia Chambers, BAME Officer, responds to the York Tories' invitation to Sir Desmond Swayne MP". Nouse . Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "Tory 'Hagueathon' drinking event in York branded 'irresponsible'". York Press . 3 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Young Tories' silence over controversial Hagueathon drinking event". The Northern Echo. 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Steerpike (5 March 2013). "William Hague's beery legacy". The Spectator . Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Macdonald, Caitlin (22 January 2020). "York Tories 'fox hunting' social to go ahead despite Tory Party condemnation". The Tab . Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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.