UCL Conservative Society

Chairman

Michael Rock - 291
Daryl Williams - 249
Matt Richardson - 228

National Management Executive

Christian May - 413
Adele Douglas - 400
Owen Meredith - 380
Steve Ricketts - 378
Anastasia Beaumont-Bott - 358
Patrick Sullivan - 347
Matt Lewis - 339
Karen Allen - 323
Charlie Groome - 320
Craig Cox - 299
Anne-Marie Bray - 273

Take 1 of the ‘KUCA event review’ did not quite go to plan……

CF is also a fun social organisation & I hope UCL members enjoy this short clip!

Some people have not received ballot papers for the CF elections. This could be because yours has been sent to your home address. If not then you need to phone the ERS and check that one has been sent to you! 

What if you don’t get a ballot paper: In this regard, ERS will establish a CF election helpdesk – please call 020 8889 9203.

Some people have not received ballot papers for the CF elections. This could be because yours has been sent to your home address. If not then you need to phone the ERS and check that one has been sent to you! 

What if you don’t get a ballot paper: In this regard, ERS will establish a CF election helpdesk – please call 020 8889 9203.

A short message from Michael David Rock, Candidate for National Chairman of Conservative Future:

I want to restore the Conservatism in Conservative Future. I will do so through core conservative principles: taking a professional, business-like approach to running our organisation, decentralising power and promoting a broader coalition of conservative-minded people.

My main proposals focus on invigorating and expanding CF, by building up support and influence from the base upwards. I will break the stranglehold of the NME: too much power rests in too few hands. Ordinary CF members, like you and I - outsiders who do the real work, on the ground - should decide how CF is run EVERY day, not just once a year.

I have travelled all over the country, speaking to and meeting members, discussing their concerns, plans and ideas. This dialogue will continue for the rest of the campaign and beyond: you can email at michael@rock4cf.com, phone me on 07903 016809 or leave comments on my website, Rock4cf.com.

The most valuable resource we have in CF is the members and I am determined that CF changes to reflect that.

Don’t settle for the same old Conservative Future, let’s return CF to its members, influence and power to a local level and make us the organisation that leads the Conservatives back into power - vote Rock4CF!

Michael David Rock
Candidate for National Chairman of Conservative Future
www.rock4cf.com

Ballot papers go out today for the CF elections. Make sure you get a ballot paper, and vote to make Michael Rock the next National Chairman of Conservative Future. Visit his website to find out more! He also has a blog and map of his travels.

What if you don’t get a ballot paper: In this regard, ERS will establish a CF election helpdesk – please call 020 8889 9203. This number will be open from 11th February and can be used by Members, who for whatever reason do not get a ballot paper.

Resources are key to any organisation and Conservative Future is very lucky that we have an incredible resource: our members. A voluntary group, like us, relies on its members to lead the organisation and move us towards power. I believe fully that our activists are the strength of CF and want to return the power to them - this is the backbone of my campaign and want to make every effort to highlight and support you in the, normally, un-rewarded work that you do.
 
That is why I am starting a guest blogging section on the Rock Blog to highlight the varied work that CF members do all over the country. Called “CF members that Rock!” it is a chance for normal CF members to have a platform to highlight the work they get up to, the experiences they have and the knowledge they have learnt. It is a sort of step forward from the CF Copywriters.
 
If elected I would make this a mainstay of the CF National website - our members deserve credit for the work they do and this would be part of that. It would also fill a hole on the training front: experienced members passing on knowledge to newer members. This is key to strengthening our organisation and helping to keep it a formidable force in youth politics.
 
Over the coming weeks various CF members, from around the UK, will be posting there experiences on this blog. I hope you read, learn and comment on the material in these posts.If you would like to contribute to “CF members that Rock!” please email me: michael@rock4cf.com

The first post out today is from Cllr Stuart Davenport - www.rock4cf.com/blog

UPDATE:
Tatiana has written on the Spring Forum & Party Conference
Oliver Cooper has written on Libertarianism

Mike has also been running an open poll for the last few days. The results are below. You can still join the more reliable polling here.

If you were voting in the CF Elections 2008 right now, which candidate would you support for the position of National Chairman?

Richardson, Matthew = 17.8%
Rock, Michael = 58.9%
Williams, Daryl = 4.7%
Undecided = 18.7%

If you were voting in the CF Elections 2008 right now, which candidates for the National Management Executive would you support?

Top 6 candidates in order:

• Beaumont-Bott, Anastasia
• Sullivan, Patrick
• Meredith, Owen
• Lewis, Matt
• May, Christian
• Groome, Charles 

Hustings for the Conservative Future Elections

CCHQ has released details of the official Hustings for the Conservative Future Elections. There will be two events. One in Manchester and the other in London. This will enable Conservative Future Members to question the Candidates for National Chairman, National Management Executive and Area Chairman.

Dates and Venue

London Event – Friday 8th February 2008 starting at 7.30pm CCHQ, 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DP

Manchester Event – Friday 15th February 2008 starting at 7.30pm Kro Bar, 325 Oxford Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 9PG. www.kro.co.uk Cash bar available.

All speakers and guests must register with CCHQ, and be a valid Conservative Future Member. CCHQ reserves the right to refuse entry. To register please contact Amanda Cowan Amanda.Cowan@Conservatives.com stating which event you wish to attend and whether you are attending as a candidate or as guest. Places are limited at both venues.

Both events will be chaired by Boni Sones, Executive Producer and Author, Women’s Parliamentary Radio.

General Rules of Hustings

There will be a complete ban on the use of cameras / camera phones / and recording equipment. Anyone seen using recording equipment will be asked to leave the premises by the organisers.

Order of speakers

Lots will be drawn by the Chair for the running order of both the NME candidates and the Chairmen candidates.

Attendees will be reminded that we are looking for short questions on the issues of the elections, not speeches about what may or may not have gone on in the past or any other statement.

Chairman Candidates

All Chairman candidates will be given 5 minutes to speak and then answer 5 questions from the floor. The candidate’s answers should be to the point and not last more than 1 minute per question.

Usual rules of taste and decency apply to questions.

NME Candidates and Area Chairman Candidates

All NME and Area candidates should be given 2 minutes to speak and be allowed only two questions from the audience. The candidate’s answers should be to the point and not last more than 1 minute per question.

PLEASE REMEMBER NUMBERS ARE LIMITED AND YOU MUST BE ON THE GUESTLIST AND AN EXISTING CF MEMBER TO ATTEND

I published my Business Plan in its entirety last week, which gives a breakdown of how I will make CF bigger, bolder and better, if elected. Appreciating that many CF members can’t get to any of the Hustings, I am going to publish each section individually, on my blog, so CF members can ask any specific questions they have about that section.

I want CF members to believe that we can improve our organisation. My Business Plan has been written with this in my mind: sound, deliverable plans built on the Conservative priniciples of decentralisation and progressive thinking.

If you are not comfortable asking questions on the blog, please feel free to email me any questions directly to michael@rock4cf.com

The agenda for the week is:

• Monday (Today)
  Strong & supported Conservative Future branches
• Tuesday
  Increasing financial resources for Conservative Future
• Wednesday
  The Conservative Future website & general communication
• Thursday
  Accountable NME & Area Chairmen & Distinguishing Conservative Future Members
• Friday
  Conservative Future events & campaigning

Today, I will blog the first section on ‘Strong & supported Conservative Future branches’, on on my blog here.

Enjoy and fire away!

Chairman candidates Matthew Richardson, Michael Rock and Daryl Williams were present alongside National Executive hopefuls Steve Ricketts, Owen Meredith, Matt Lewis, Anastasia Beaumont-Bott, Christian May and Patrick Sullivan, while Anne-Marie Bray provided a written statement in her absence.

A healthy attendance of 40 people, watched on as each candidate was given time to outline their plans to take Conservative Future forward. Many of the candidates noted how, from humble beginnings of small contingents, Conservative Future has evolved, whilst maintaining that there is still work to do. One of the major themes that emerged was communication both within the party and within the wider political sphere. Anastasia Beaumont-Bott told the packed room, “What we have to do is talk – Let’s be friends and not numbers.”

Another key issue for the candidates was expanding and improving Conservative Future by building up from a strong network of local branches. Matthew Richardson noted the importance of campaigning, as well as calling for a larger focus on the “provinces” outside of London, while Owen Meredith noted plans to ensure that student members of Conservative Future graduating and leaving home are “absorbed into their new branch and are not lost in the system.” Chairman candidate Michael Rock felt that “CF should be at universities, colleges and sixth forms, breaking down every barrier that’s stopping us from expanding.”

The competing candidates were also keen to build upon the diverse nature of Conservative Future as an organisation, hoping to improve upon both the social and political activities currently offered. Matthew Lewis urged an acceptance that “CF is different things to different people”, while adding that “what we need is a CF where everyone feels connected to the national structure.” Patrick Sullivan felt that CF events could have “a magnet effect - Yes it’s a Tory event, but it’s fun. I want outreach, tell your friends about the party.” Daryl Williams, one of the candidates for national CF Chairman, said “My aim, as it was when I joined the party ten years ago is to get the party back into power… I want you to share in my vision, so we can make it our vision for the future.” Steve Ricketts, echoed those sentiments in summing up his ethos for Conservative Future: “We are the future of the country. Let’s get together and make a difference.”

These political aims were certainly not lost on the enthusiastic Conservative Future members in the audience, who engaged the candidates in a question and answer session following the main speeches.

Nicolas Webb, Chairman of Bristol and Gloucestershire Conservative Future, hailed the event as a great success, both in the pleasing turnout and the competitive, but positively-natured debates between the different candidates. National Executive applicant Christian May illustrated the growing optimism within both Conservative Future and in the party as a whole: “We must not sound pessimistic – I look forward, with passion, to when David Cameron becomes Prime Minister.” It is clear from these hustings that candidates and members alike are united in that aim as well as in acceptance of what needs to be done to achieve it.

Other reviews:

http://johnmoorcraft.blogspot.com/2008/01/bristol-hustings.html

http://www.myrightwingagenda.org.uk/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=16

http://christianmay.blogspot.com/2008/01/ive-just-got-off-obscenely-busy-train.html

Mike Rouse has been conducting more accurate polling for the CF elections. He has invted peopel to sign up and be polled at various stages during the election. The first poll result (done before the Bristol hustings) has now been announced and the results are below. You can still signup here to take part, or simply vote in the less accurate basic poll here. 

There were 43 panelists in the first poll. They came from as far as Keele, Newcastle, and Manchester and as wide as Cardiff and Hampshire. Turnout was not as London-centric as I thought it would be. The actual number of panelists that finished their questions in time was 38, a turnout of 88.3%.

Each question is listed below with the various results:

Q1. Using the rating scale, please tell us how satisifed or dissatisfied you are with the following areas of the CF Elections 2008.

Ballot Integrity & Security

Very Satisfied = 31.6%
Somewhat Satisfied = 44.7%
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied = 15.8%
Somewhat Dissatisfied = 2.6%
Very Dissatified = 5.3%

Communications

Very Satisfied = 23.6%
Somewhat Satisfied = 34.2%
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied = 13.2%
Somewhat Dissatisfied = 21.1%
Very Dissatified = 5.3%

Participation

Very Satisfied = 15.8%
Somewhat Satisfied = 42.1%
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied = 21.1%
Somewhat Dissatisfied = 15.8%
Very Dissatified = 5.3%

Management

Very Satisfied = 26.3%
Somewhat Satisfied = 44.7%
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied = 13.2%
Somewhat Dissatisfied = 7.9%
Very Dissatified = 7.9%

Behaviour

Very Satisfied = 23.7%
Somewhat Satisfied = 36.8%
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied = 10.5%
Somewhat Dissatisfied = 23.7%
Very Dissatified = 5.3%

Subsequent feedback has indicated that the above question was somewhat vague. If I run this question again in future polling I will work on it. Suggestions welcome.

Q2. Did you plan on attending the Bristol CF hustings?

Yes = 36.8%
No = 63.2%

Q3. If you were voting in the CF Elections 2008 right now, which candidate would you support for the position of National Chairman?

Richardson, Matthew = 18.9%
Rock, Michael = 73.0%
Williams, Daryl = 8.1%

Q4. In your opinion, which candidate has run the most POSITIVE campaign?

Richardson, Matthew = 18.9%
Rock, Michael = 70.3%
Williams, Daryl = 10.8%

Q5. In your opinion, which candidate has run the most NEGATIVE campaign?

Richardson, Matthew = 73.0%
Rock, Michael = 13.5%
Williams, Daryl = 13.5%

Q6. If you were voting in the CF Elections 2008 right now, which candidates for the National Management Executive would you support? (You may choose up to a maximum of 6 candidates)

Allen, Karen = 41.7%
Beaumont-Bott, Anastasia = 44.4%
Bray, Anne-Marie = 25.0%
Cox, Craig = 30.6%
Douglas, Adele = 19.4%
Groome, Charles = 36.1%
Lewis, Matt = 50.0%
May, Christian = 47.2%
Meredith, Owen = 55.6%
Rowe, Harry = 30.6%
Sullivan, Patrick = 63.9%

Q7. Using the options below, please state how POSITIVE, NEUTRAL or NEGATIVE you have viewed each NME campaign to be. You need to give an opinion for each candidate, else choose the NO OPINION option.

“Who are you likely to vote for as CF National Chairman?”
Votes cast 467

250 Michael Rock
179 Matthew Richardson
26 Daryl Williams
12 Won’t Vote

“Which CF Exec Candidates are you likely to vote for?”
Votes Cast 322

134 Patrick Sullivan
95 Owen Meredith
91 Anastasia Beaumont-Bott
61 Christian May
60 Matt Lewis
57 Anne-Marie Bray
54 Charlie Groome
52 Karen Allen
47 Craig Cox
40 Harry Rowe
31 Won’t Vote
26 Adele Douglas

Mike Rouse is going to be running accurate polling for the election. Any CF member can vote, but they need to register first on Mike’s website.

“I acknowledge Nicholas Webb’s sidebar poll that makes use of Blogger’s services, however I note that it is quite easy to rig. All you have to do is delete your browsers cookies and reload your browser to be able to vote again, and again, and again.

What I want to try out is a way of building some reliable polling information on the upcoming elections. My initial thought is to put out a poll before every hustings events and then immediately afterwards also. However, the main problem is working out a way to stop the system being played to give the perception of advantage to a particular candidate.

I have an option of requiring an email address for each submission, but it is also quite easy for somebody to put a fake email address in that looks about right and get away with multiple voting.

The method I am going to plump for is a system of “tokens”. These are issued to email addresses and can only be used once. They will only be issued to addresses for people that sign up to become a panelist.

To become a panelist you will need to complete the information in the form below before Friday 25 January 2008, after which it will be unlikely that new panelists will be taken on. As a panelist you have to commit to a number of things:

• That you will vote in every poll put out
• That you are eligible to vote in the elections

It would help if you attend some of the hustings events, but this is not essential. I am keen to get as many people as possible to register as panelists, so please tell other CF members about this registration form and encourage them to take part.”

Click here to register to vote.