University of Warwick Conservative Association
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| University of Warwick Conservative Association |
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| Honorary President | Rt Hon David Davis MP | ||
| Chairman | James Berragan | ||
| Deputy Chairman (financial) | Matt Alderson | ||
| Deputy Chairman (political) | Nick Jones | ||
| Secretary | Charles Tongue | ||
| Social Secretary | Faye Lawson | ||
| Commitee Members | Peter Thomas, Sam Shirley, Thomas Wales | ||
| Founded | 1965 | ||
| Institution | University of Warwick | ||
| Political Ideology | Centre Right/Libertarian | ||
| Website | http://www.uwca.co.uk/ | ||
| See also | University of Warwick University of Warwick Students' Union |
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The University of Warwick Conservative Association is the largest political society at Warwick University dedicated to ensuring a strong centre-right/libertarian voice is heard on campus. The society prides itself on attracting a diverse range of political beliefs from all walks of life. The society also has a strong social programme, dedicated to the consumption of much port [1]. Each year a variety of speakers are invited to address the society, other events have included trips to the House Commons, local Association Black-tie dinners and trips to meet John Major and Michael Howard.
The society has been present on campus since the University was founded in 1965. Those few past members who have gone on to rise through the ranks of the party include David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary and failed leadership contender and Tim Loughton, the Shadow Minister for Children, who was Secretary of Warwick Conservatives from 1981-82. The Society also has a long tradition of achieving extremely low vote counts in Union elections [2] but since 2005 candidates have been scoring progressively more votes. A Constitution for the Society was agreed and signed in July 2005 at the society's Chingford Constitutional Convention [3].
As one of the grey-brick universities, the society, together with similar bodies at other grey-brick universities has a long tradition of libertarian thought and acts as a stand-alone body rather than as a branch of the national Conservative Party.
The Association is consistently the largest political grouping at Warwick University averaging 80 paid up members per year with a strong, growing network of supporting alumni.
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[edit] Students' Union Elections
The society has a strong tradition of running the Students' Union elections. In 2005, the then Chairman Bill Rees came 5th out of 9 candidates gaining a respectable 183 votes in the 1st round for President. In 2008, James Berragan, Peter Thomas and Thomas Wales ran together on 'The Right Direction' slate for President, Vice-President and Societies Officer respectively. Berragan came 3rd/4 with 290 votes; Thomas came in 4th with 346 votes and Wales 6th with 133 votes.
[edit] The 1965 Committee
This is the ruling Committee of the Society. The current members are:
- Life President: Rt Hon David Davis MP, 2007-present
- Chairman: James Berragan
- Deputy Chairman (Financial): Matthew Alderson
- Deputy Chairman (Political): Nick Jones
- Secretary: Charles James Pearson Tongue
- Social Secretary: Faye Lawson
- Committee Members: Peter Thomas, Sam Shirley, Thomas Wales
[edit] Previous 1965 Committee Chairmen
- Unknown (1965-1997)
- Alex Banks, 1997-1998
- Kevin Foster, 1998-1999
- Simon Eardley, 1999-2000
- James Griffen, 2000-2001
- Hayden Allan, 2001-2002
- Simon Baker, 2002-2003
- James Turgoose, 2003-2004
- Richard Sherwell, 2004-2005
- Bill Rees, 2005-2006
- Matt Hartley, 2006-2007
[edit] Previous 1965 Committee Treasurers & Deputy Chairmen (Financial)
- Unknown (1965-2002)
- James Turgoose, 2002-2003
- Alex Wilson, 2003-2004
- Francis Kershaw, 2004-2005
- Neil Gillies, 2005-2006
- Nick Kinrade, 2006-2007
[edit] Previous 1965 Committee Deputy Chairmen (Political)
- Unknown (1965-2002)
- James Turgoose, 2002-2003
- Richard Sherwell, 2003-2004
- Bill Rees, 2004-2005
- Neil Gillies, 2005-2006
- Cristian Smith, 2006-2007
[edit] Previous 1965 Committee Secretaries
- Tim Loughton, 1981-1982
- Cristian Smith, 2004-2005
- Matt Hartley, 2005-2006
- Matthew Alderson, 2006-2007
