14th February, 2008
Social action
We need to be much savvier in promoting the Conservative cause: just pushing leaflets through doors is not enough to convince many people. We need to deliver a public, social conscience. Elections are won on a local basis: by showing that the Conservatives are involved in local issues means we can genuinely show our best, most progressive side. Conservatism promotes influence at a local level; social action shows how it can be done.
As an organisation we have made good ground this year for social action; examples include the social action project at Party Conference, leg-waxing in Keele, Poppy selling in London, and the ‘Surpise Supplies’ initiative that I am doing with UCL CF (above picture).
On the ‘National Days’ we will also get CF members involved with social action projects:
- The Area Chairman will work to find local projects for the local members to get involved with on the National Day.
- This also allows the CF branches to build links with the project enabling them to possibly help or more than one occasion.
- Having the power and choice back with the Area Chairman allows us to make a difference with these projects, and not just a one-off photo op.
CF is not just for delivering leaflets; CF should be about spreading the positive message and image of Conservatism. We should see every project we become involved with as another advert for the positives in politics.

