London Chairman's 2012 Message & Opening of Executive Applications

It is with great pleasure that I enter my second term as Chairman of Conservative Future in London and look forward to the pivotal and exciting year that 2012 will be.

What has been achieved

Last year I assembled a team to help me build an organisation that prioritised the experience a Conservative Party member under the age of 30 can expect at branch, area and regional levels in the Capital. Whilst achieving this it was also important to show the Party that our activists do form a vital, reliable and efficient campaigning force.

I truly believe that we achieved what we set out to do; CF activity throughout London is flourishing. The new area structure that I introduced has provided the support that local branches need to grow and, furthermore, the general level of organised activity has encouraged spontaneous activity at the grassroots. Special recognition must go to our Area Chairmen who have proved themselves to be competent in what they do, active in supporting the Party’s campaigns and helpful when activists and local associations are in need.

As a Region our communications have vastly improved through our website, mailing list and effective use of social media improving awareness of what we offer and making it easier for people to find out what’s on.

Our Young Professional events have been a great success and have shown, at a national level, how CF can engage members who fall in to the 25-30 (and over) age bracket in matters of interest and relevance to them.  A student council (LUCC) has been established to help students across the Capital to better co-ordinate their activities. Finally, and all-importantly, we have shown that CFers in London can campaign effectively through our performance in the No to AV referendum our presence in by-elections and our regular campaign days throughout the year. (For more on my first term click here)

So what comes next?

A New Regional Executive

All positions on the Regional Management Executive are hereby opened to applications for the 2012 administration. Click here for more information on how to apply. In order to maintain accountability and meritocracy it is essential that these appointed positions are refreshed at the start of every new administration. This is an opportunity for all our Conservative activists under the age of 30 to get involved and contribute their talents to the Party. Area Chairmen elections are postponed until after the conclusion of the Mayoral Election, when they will be held with minimal delay, in order to minimise disruption to campaigning.

Re-electing Boris

Through the application of our devolved Area campaign strategy that has gone from stregnth-to-strength over the last 12 months, we will seek to make CF an integral part of the BackBoris 2012 campaign.

Areas will be supported by the London Region through our Super Saturdays and by co-operation with other CF Regions nationally; thus ensuring ample support ot our Areas and the inclusion of CFers outside of London in what will be a very fun and exciting campaign.

Consolidation and Moving On

Membership growth is essential to the future of our party and we cannot afford to let this fall by the wayside. More efforts must be made to offer targeted and inclusive recruitment drives that attract students, post-grads, young professionals and people from all different ages and backgrounds. In some part this must be reflected in how we conceive our campaigning and social events, ensuring price and accessibility do not act as bars to inclusion.

London must also play a greater  role in helping CF decentralise and to achieve an effective harmonisation between Regions. London CF is well-placed to assist other Regions to replicate what we offer. However, reciprocity is also welcome: greater co-operation with our neighbouring Regions will lead to a more effective and less regionally centralised CF experience for all.

Finally in the months following the mayoral elections I will seek to consolidate the foundations of London CF that so many have invested their time, energy and belief in establishing. This will ensure that London CF remains sustainable into the future. New talent must be recruited and encouraged so that what has thus far been achieved can continue to grow and do service to CF and the Conservative Party.