The Rock Blog

If Conservative Future is to grow into a mainstream political force, we need to develop from our standing as the dominant youth organisation and start delivering the message of Conservatism on a much bigger scale, to a much larger audience. We are not going to convert the apathetic solely by pushing ‘In Touch’ through letterboxes. This approach is not even engaging the majority of CF members.

One question frequently asked by people is just how much influence does Conservative Future have? The answer is, really, not a great deal, but it ought to. One field into which Conservative Future needs to develop if it is to increase its influence is protesting. We ought to be truly on the frontlines of twenty-first century politics.

A typical example of such an opportunity is the referendum on the EU Constitution we were promised by Labour. We, the people, have been cheated out of this. We were partly to blame. Conservative Future did nothing to put pressure upon Labour to deliver on their pledge. Our leadership at national level failed to seize, or even recognize, the opportunity.

Second chances in politics are somewhat rare, and yet we have been given one – and we’re still failing to seize it. Referenda are being held all over the country as an act of protest. Conservative Future is ideally placed to get involved with these, by promoting them, and make the Conservative case for a ‘No’ vote. It is after all in our Party’s manifesto! Instead, though, we’re doing nothing. Again.

Conservative Future ought to place protesting and law-abiding demonstration at the heart of its remit, along with campaigning for our candidates, and social action projects in our local communities. All three approaches have their strengths and weaknesses, but their combined effect will be to dominate through education the political discourse and ensure that our voice is perceived as the voice of reason.

We need to make a ‘National Day’ truly national; mini-bussing 20 activists to the opposite end of the country denigrates the impact and effort that CF members put into their constituencies all over the country.

My plans will create a ‘buzz’ for the entire nation, not merely a select few. These plans include:

• On a CF National Day six events will occur in the six areas of the country
• The six events on any ‘National Day’ will be different; some will be campaigning sessions, some social action projects or protests.
• The Area Chairs co-ordinate amongst their region to maximise turnout
• Every CF member can be involved, for less time and cost

This proposal also means will can cover 36 marginal seats a year on the National Days - 24 more than at present! Also, it was devised to increase the chance of repeat campaigning: people will develop an affinity and a relationship with their region and candidate. We should remember all the work our members do, outside of the limelight: the biggest impact we make is at local level.

That simple fact is how we can build momentum behind CF; by building local strength and then combining forces to a deliver a truly national impact.

Laura-Rose Saunders is the Deputy Area Chairman for Bristol & Gloucestershire. 

There’s nothing quite like a good campaign day; congregating inhumanly early on a Saturday morning with the local Conservatives all of whom seem to be at least 3 times older than you and can remember ‘the good old days when that nice Mr. Churchill was in office’, preparing to deliver a pile of leaflets the same size as your brother while the rain steadily falls and you stand there secretly wishing that you were tucked up in bed with your teddy and your cat.

However while this may appear to be the stereotypical campaigning situation I can confidentially reassure you that this is not always the case. In my time in CF I have been out and about in a wide variety of areas doing a whole range of things from collecting signatures for a local petition to canvassing and even touring London on the ‘Boris battle bus’ and I can tell you there is nothing like it in the world.

One of my favourite things about Campaigning is that you never know what’s going to happen or who you are going to meet. For example over the summer I helped out in the Cheltenham By-election and while out canvassing one street met a white witch who delightedly informed us that there was no chance of us losing as she had placed a spell on the Lib Dem candidate so that he would lose!

These days campaigning does not just take place on the doorstep with the locals discussing key issues like crime, tax and education it has moved on. In my room at Uni I have a fine collection of free t-shirts including ‘Chose Coote’, ‘Conservative Green Action day’ and the classic Back Boris style ‘Jesse Norman 4 Hereford’ t-shirt.

The internet is also a fantastic tool for broad casting your message take for example the ‘Rock 4 CF’ campaign. Blogs everywhere have the logo, numerous people have changed their profile pictures to the logo and I can’t go to a CF event and not bump into someone who is sporting one of the bright green ‘Rock 4 CF’ badges.

The five pieces of advice I would give to anyone planning to go on a Campaigning Day would be this: Wear comfy shoes, ALWAYS take chocolate, bring an umbrella, go with a friend and above all else smile! If it looks like you’re having fun, and appear happy and approachable then people will be more willing to help you and hear you out.

There is only one way to prove whether or not I am lying, and that’s to go and have a go. Conservative offices everywhere will be delighted to have you involved and you’ll also have unique experience that you can only acquire from a Conservative Party Campaign day.

Click here for information about “CF members that Rock!”

I went to help Ian Oakley out with a day of campaigning in Watford. It’s a three way marginal and as I may have mentioned before, my MP has encouraged me to help out in our neighbouring constituency.

My seat, South West Herts, is a solid seat so trying to build the wider Conservative base across our region is just as important as keeping our local voters in touch. Fortunately, David Gauke is a very popular MP so we can afford to help our ‘next door’.

I missed the lunch but I hear we had a good turnout from across the Herts and London, with the newly elected North West London Chairman, Oliver Cooper, shoring up the numbers.

Stuart Davenport is Councillor for Dunchurch and Knightlow ward in Warwickshire. 

According to research by the LGA the average age of a Councillor in the UK is 56. This in itself is a figure to put off most people of CF age. However, when an opportunity to represent your own ward comes along it is very difficult to say no. This is what happened to me in February 2007 and after a fraught election campaign I became the duly elected member for Dunchurch and Knightlow ward.

Throughout the election campaign I saw CF at it’s strongest: in campaign mode. Putting aside differences, leaving ambition at home and uniting in the shared cause of Conservatism. A team of 10 CFers launched an offensive in my ward that made everyone sit up and take note. Blue rosettes, a diverse mix of people and a sense of humour that was infectious! I have no doubt days like this played an important role in my victory.

Yet the old stigma of ‘Young Conservatives’ still rears it’s ugly head sometimes. Henry Kissinger once said: ‘University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small’ and in a way he was right. Out with national and local elections CF often seems hell bent on squabbling like children. For someone like me with no Parliamentary ambitions I sometimes get cross: the people destined to represent me in the Commons will surely get there whether they are in CF or not?

Council life is hard but enjoyable. Juicy issues are outnumbered by prosaic ones, however being given the duty of representing other people is a tremendous honour! If you have the time and the commitment I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Click here for information about “CF members that Rock!”

I’m becoming worryingly familiar with certain areas of Tooting! Another day leafletting was followed by the second hustings of the campaign trail.

Suffice to say the atmosphere for the hustings was somewhat ‘different’ form Bristol, which accounted for my less than perfect performance. I was actually disappointed by the behaviour of some individuals but, this being politics, I should have expected it.

More people contacted me to compliment on my performance than they did at Bristol. Apparently, I performed exceptionally well, under the circumstances. Onwards and upwards!

I went over to Hereford for the day to do some canvassing for Jesse Norman, who is the constituency’s PPC. Taking a slightly different perspective on how to engage people on the doorstep, we were also gathering signatures for a petition to keep local Post Offices open, which was a popular cause and something that resonates well with the electorate (even if you no idea where the nearest Post Office is!)

I’ve long argued that winning elections must be done on a local level: addressing the issues that affect the lives of the electorate directly. We can make an enormous difference just by being engaged and aware of the issues in the local area, tapping into that all important local knowledge of all the association members.

I missed out on the curry and drinks at night but have been assured that it was as civilised and respectable as every CF event!

Mary Macleod, PPC for Brentford and Isleworth held a campaigning day across her constituency on Saturday. We were blessed with clear skies until around half four and a fine spread of food!

The group of local MP’s PPC’s ,including Justine Greening, are all agreed on a strategy to oppose the expansion of Heathrow. In Mary’s words:

“My personal view is very simple. I am a business woman so I am certainly not against business growth and expansion. The problem here, is that future expansion at Heathrow Airport will affect the lives of thousands of residents and have huge implications on the environment and the quality of life of the local community”

Having been there for just a day, it did strike me how noisy and constant the planes were. One resident commented on the dichotomy the expansion presents: she herself had benefitted from BA shares and the employment opportunities Heathrow provides but she was frustrated at the constant level of noise generated by the overhead flightpath.

It is issues such as these that reinforce my belief that the winning elections is all about local issues, which is why it is so important to re-build and expand CF at a local level.

I had the pleasure of a trip to Colchester for an evening with Essex University’s Conservative Society. The night was notionally themed ‘Best of British’ with Michael Champion, a Councillor in Rushcliffe and active Tory, giving a speech on British History and why he was a ‘young’ Conservative, which he described as being intrinsically linked.

I know Mr Champion from Conservative social events and we are both proud patriots and Monarchists: I am helping in a small capacity to promote his charity event to celebrate 300 years of the British Empire next May. I’ll post more details in the coming weeks.

It was good to see a thriving, engaged branch and I was pleased to hear that my vision for CF is shared by so many involved with the wider CF movement.

Went across to Cheltenham on Saturday to do some leafleting with Bristol and Gloucestershire Conservative Future. They have a very strong group building up over in the South West and Nick Webb is quite rightly re-standing for election as Area Chair.

I genuinely enjoy visiting different seats, it is always re-assuring to see that we have such a great national coverage, supported by hard working local teams.

The TRG organised a campaign in day in Lewes where Jason Sugarman is contesting a soon-to-be-very marginal seat. At the next general election, due to boundary changes, the 8000 majority should be slashed to just under 3000, giving us a great change to win what appears to be a no-hoper of a seat. We spent the day leafleting areas that had historically been neglected by the local associations.

Lewes town itself, apparently, is a solid Tory area but they have no CF to speak of. It may well be worth arranging a CF day down there. I’ve had some minor criticism for not going to Pendle with other CF members. Whilst the Pendle trip was an entirely noble and justified, I had agreed to the TRG event many moons ago and, out of gratitude for all the support they have provided UCL over the last five years, I couldn’t let them down. We didn’t heavily promote the day out of respect for the national CF event. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t even a Student TRG event so I was acting entirely altruistically!

It is fair to say that the communication from the NME needs to be more strategic and planning needs to longer-term so we don’t have overlaps like this. I address this kind of issue in my manifesto of principles, which will be launched in December.