Chairman of the Conservative Party

In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (formerly Conservative Central Office). When the Conservatives are in government, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio. Deputy or vice-chairmen may also be appointed, with responsibility for specific aspects of the Conservative Party (for example, local government, women or youth). The Conservative Party is currently chaired by Baron Feldman of Elstree, who was appointed in 2010.

The role was created in 1911 in response to the Conservative party's defeat in the second 1910 general election. The position is not subject to election, as it is in the gift of the party leader.[1]

Chairmen

PeriodName(s)Constituency (where applicable)
1911–1916 Arthur Steel-Maitland[2] Birmingham East
1916–1923 Sir George Younger[3] Ayr Burghs
1923–1926 Stanley Jackson[2] Howdenshire
1926–1930 John Davidson[2][3] Hemel Hempstead
1930–1931 Neville Chamberlain[2][3] Birmingham Edgbaston
1931–1936 Lord Stonehaven None
1936–1942 Sir Douglas Hacking Chorley
1942–1944 Thomas Dugdale Richmond
1944–1946 Ralph Assheton[2] City of London
1946–1955 Lord Woolton[2] None
1955–1957 Oliver Poole[2][4] None
1957–1959 Viscount Hailsham[2] None
1959–1961 Richard Austen Butler[2] Saffron Walden
1961–1963 Iain Macleod
Lord Poole[2]		 Enfield West
None
1963–1965 Lord Blakenham None
1965–1967 Edward du Cann[2] Taunton
1967–1970 Anthony Barber Altrincham and Sale
1970–1972 Peter Thomas Hendon South
1972–1974 Lord Carrington None
1974–1975 William Whitelaw Penrith and The Border
1975–1981 Lord Thorneycroft[2] None
1981–1983 Cecil Parkinson[2] South Hertfordshire
1983–1985 John Gummer Suffolk Coastal
1985–1987 Norman Tebbit[2] Chingford
1987–1989 Peter Brooke City of London and Westminster South
1989–1990 Kenneth Baker Mole Valley
1990–1992 Chris Patten[5] Bath
1992–1994 Sir Norman Fowler Sutton Coldfield
1994–1995 Jeremy Hanley Richmond and Barnes
1995–1997 Brian Mawhinney Peterborough
1997–1998 Lord Parkinson None
1998–2001 Michael Ancram Devizes
2001–2002 David Davis Haltemprice and Howden
2002–2003 Theresa May[4] Maidenhead
2003–2005 Liam Fox
Lord Saatchi[4]		 Woodspring
None
2005–2007 Francis Maude Horsham
2007–2009 Caroline Spelman Meriden
2009–2010 Eric Pickles Brentwood and Ongar
2010–2012 Baroness Warsi
Lord Feldman of Elstree[2]		 None
None
2012–2015 Grant Shapps
Lord Feldman of Elstree		 Welwyn Hatfield
None
2015– Lord Feldman of Elstree None

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ Harris, Robin (2011). The Conservatives - A History. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 9780593065112. (p. 249) After the second election defeat of 1910 there was an unstoppable pressure for an enquiry into the party's failures. A committee [recommended] that two new posts be created - that of party treasurer and that of chairman of the party (enjoying 'Cabinet rank'). ... Balfour accepted the changes but tried to reduce the status of the chairman, a position which he significantly (and permanently) re-titled 'chairman of the party organization'. He also concealed, as long as he could, the 'Cabinet rank' pledge. Finally he appointed a rather junior but, as it turned out, vigorous and assertive Birmingham member of parliament, Arthur Steel-Maitland, to the chairmanship.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Harris, Robin (2011). The Conservatives - A History. London: Bantam Press. ISBN 9780593065112.
  3. 1 2 3 Stewart, Graham (1999). Burying Caesar - Churchill, Chamberlain and the Battle for the Tory Party. London: Phoenix. ISBN 9780753810606.
  4. 1 2 3 Sampson, Anthony (2004). Who Runs This Place?. London: John Murray. ISBN 0719565642.
  5. ↑ Patten, Chris (2005). Not Quite the Diplomat. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 0713998555.

External links

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