Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Oxford University Conservative Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) is a student political organization founded in 1924 whose members are drawn from Oxford University. Amongst its alumni are many significant Conservative Party figures, including Cabinet ministers and Prime Ministers, and former Presidents include Margaret Thatcher, Edward Heath, William Hague, Jonathan Aitken,Lord Rees-Mogg and Nick Robinson. Even Ed Balls, the Labour Party UK Cabinet Minister, is another prominent OUCA alumnus [1].
Recently OUCA has been visited by figures such as Margaret Thatcher (November 2002), George Osborne, Alan Duncan, John Redwood, Ann Widdecombe, the Earl of Onslow, Iain Duncan Smith, David Willetts, Oliver Letwin and Lord Patten, and it was recently praised in the Mail on Sunday by Lord Rees-Mogg. Lord Rees-Mogg, "Tories must listen to the Oxford Blues", Mail on Sunday, 2006-02-12.p.67.[2].
OUCA provides for a number of activities include speaker meetings, campaigning, Port and Policy and social events.
Contents |
The main aim of the Association is to promote the Conservative cause in the University. It has in recent times enjoyed considerable support from Conservative Central Office and many Shadow Cabinet ministers.
Recently OUCA has become closer both to the national Conservative Party UK, its youth branch Conservative Future as well as its home constituency: Oxford West and Abingdon. When David Cameron visited Oxford in May 2007 to meet with two Liberal Democrat councillors who had defected to the Conservatives, both OUCA and the local Oxford Abingdon Conservative Future Group were invited by the Local Parliamentary Candidate, Nicola Blackwood, to send a delegation to meet him. There, the then President (Sam Belcher) and President-Elect Alexander Stafford, as well as the Chairman of Oxford and Abingdon CF (James Branthwaite - also a member of OUCA), greeted both him and other representatives from both the local and national party.
OUCA is often asked to put forward two candidates for the Oxford City Council elections and in 2006 both of them managed to defeat the Labour candidate. OUCA is a significant, and indeed high profile, campaigning force within the city.
The Patron of OUCA is Margaret Thatcher and the Honorary President is William Hague.
In 1965 a group of OUCA members formed the Oxford University Tory Reform Group, predating the national Tory Reform Group organisation. The OUTRG acted as a One Nation Conservative pressure group in Oxford, although had a substantially smaller membership than OUCA. However due to decline in interest, the national Party's shift towards a more moderate conservatism, and the decline of faction in OUCA the OUTRG voted to disband and merge with OUCA during Michaelmas term 2007. [1]
Due to its age (founded in 1924) and size, OUCA has enjoyed an almost unrivalled position in the University. As officially the second largest University society, and one of the most active, its members feature prominently in many other aspects of University life.
Many senior members of OUCA are also active on the committee of the Oxford Union.
OUCA tends to stay clear of the Oxford University Student Union, OUSU, which is dominated by a clique of OULC members. OUCA members often argue for reform of the somewhat unrepresentative 'official' student body (as represented by OUSU) through collegiate disaffiliation - a policy which yielded results in 2006/7 with the disaffiliation of several college JCRs. Despite this, one recent president Alexander Stafford was elected in Michaelmas 2006 to the executive committee of OUSU and became the Health and Welfare Officer.
OUCA’s view is often sought on most issues from the two student papers, the Oxford Student and the Cherwell. In addition, the national press often seek comments from the committee on issues relating to University life and politics. Both in 2006 and 2007 OUCA Presidents have featured highly in the student papers “50 most influential people in Oxford”.
OUCA is run by its officers and committee, who are elected each term.
In addition, there is a Returning Officer, responsible for the elections and for administering OUCA's internal disciplinary procedures, and from time to time, there may also be appointed Non-executive officers, or a Press Officer.
| Office | Office holder | College |
|---|---|---|
| President | Christopher Pickard | Somerville College |
| President-Elect | Guy Levin | Corpus Christi College |
| Treasurer | Ernest Bell | Mansfield College |
| Treasurer-Elect | Niall Gallagher | Worcester College |
| Secretary | Thomas Ward | Christ Church |
| Political Officer | Aneurin Ellis-Evans | Balliol College |
| Social Secretary | Phillippa Neal | Christ Church |
| Junior Officer | Thomas Glasspool | St Catherine's College |
| Publicity Officer | Simon Hodge | Somerville College |
| Publications Officer | Daniel Ward | Exeter College |
| Returning Officer | Cameron Penny | Oriel College |
| Committee | Anthony Boutall | St Edmund Hall |
| Committee | Anna Williams | St Edmund Hall |
| Committee | Javid Lakha | Christ Church |
| Committee | George Harnett | Balliol College |
| Committee | Natalie Shina | St Peter's College |
OUCA's membership (currently over 720 members [3]), makes it one of the largest youth political organisations in the world[citation needed] has been consistently high. It has more members than all Oxford University's other political groups combined.
The collegiate nature of Oxford allows individual colleges to exert hegemony within student societies. Within OUCA, this has led to periods in which one or two colleges, traditionally Oriel and Christ Church, have been particularly dominant. More recently, membership has filtered towards the Permanent Private Halls, with almost all of Greyfriars undergraduates being members.
| Year | Term | President | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Trinity | Guy Levin | Corpus Christi College |
| 2008 | Hilary | Christopher Pickard | Somerville College |
| 2007 | Michaelmas | Alexander Stafford | St Benet's Hall |
| 2007 | Trinity | Sam Belcher | St Edmund Hall |
| 2007 | Hilary | Ian Wellby | Keble College |
| 2006 | Michaelmas | Charlie Steel | Merton College |
| 2006 | Trinity | Simon Clarke | University College |
| 2006 | Hilary | Sophie Steele | Christ Church |
| 2005 | Michaelmas | Christopher Ware | Greyfriars |
| 2005 | Trinity | Alexander Samuels | University College |
| 2005 | Hilary | Matthew Smith | Mansfield College |
| 2004 | Michaelmas | Timothy Ayles | Trinity College |
| 2004 | Trinity | Andrew Harper | Wadham College |
| 2004 | Hilary | Blair Gibbs | Merton College |
| 2003 | Michaelmas | Oliver Pepys | Oriel College |
| 2003 | Trinity | John Townsend | University College |
| 2003 | Hilary | Edward Tomlinson | St John's College |
| 2002 | Michaelmas | Marc Stoneham | Merton College |
| 2002 | Trinity | James Gardiner | Somerville College |
| 2002 | Hilary | Edmund Sutton | Magdalen College |
| 2001 | Michaelmas | Nicholas Bennett | Lincoln College |
| 2001 | Trinity | Marcus Walker | Oriel College |
| 2001 | Hilary | William Charles | Trinity College |
| 2000 | Michaelmas | Gabriel Rozenburg | Lincoln College |
Throughout the terms OUCA events and activities vary dramatically, depending on the President. However, all activities broadly follow four main routes; Port and Policy, speaker meetings, campaigning and social events. Michaelmas Term is always the strongest term with more debates and speakers, as well as many socials, whilst Trinity Term leans more heavily on the social side due to exams.
OUCA's most famous event is Port and Policy, where political discussion is vitiated by port, ever the hand-maiden of rational and considered argument. It is OUCA's most popular regular event, recently attracting weekly attendances of 70+ people. Port and Policy is usually held about six times a term on Sunday evenings in the Oxford Union. Although the format is up to the President and the Political Officer, it generally follows the lines of a set debate to start with followed by a debate with topics from the floor. This is all done in a relaxed environment with unlimited amounts of port being available. In May of 2007 OUCA's port and Policy featured in a documentary produced for Channel 4 titled Make Me a Tory. In recent terms Port and Policy has been sponsored by The Spectator, who provide numerous complimentary copies of their publication.
One of OUCA's most high profile elements is its speaker meetings. Recently OUCA has been visited by figures such as Margaret Thatcher (November 2002), Michael Howard (February 2007) , Michael Ancram, Edward Leigh , George Osborne, Alan Duncan, John Redwood, Ann Widdecombe, the Earl of Onslow, Iain Duncan Smith, David Willetts, Oliver Letwin and Lord Patten. The President of the Association is responsible for inviting guest speakers and organising his term's events. The prestige of the Association means that it often draws prominent Conservative figures.
OUCA often campaigns in local and general elections in other constituencies.
Over the last few years, this aspect of the Association's activities has become resurgent, and its success rate has dramatically increased, as demonstrated by an ever-increasing demand by Conservative M.P.s and councillors for OUCA's assistance in their constituencies and wards. The Association aided the Conservative candidate in the Headington Hill and Northway ward of Oxford in Trinity Term 2006 and sitting councillors in Swindon in Michaelmas Term of that year. In Hilary Term 2007 a group from OUCA went up to aid in the Ribble Valley election, where the Conservative party received their largest swing. For this, and OUCA's work in the Tooting area, Mark Clarke (politician) thanked them nationally.
Recently OUCA has become far closer both to the national Conservative Party and Conservative Future as well as to its home constituency of Oxford West and Abingdon and aided them during election periods. Their commitment and loyalty to the party is shown as OUCA are often asked to put forward two candidates for the Oxford City Council elections.
In the past however, OUCA campaigning has not always been the most successful. In 1997 the seat of Winchester was lost to Mark Oaten, best known for his frolics with male prostitutes, by two votes, and the incumbent Conservative MP, Gerry Malone successfully challenged the result in the High Court. OUCA campaigned in the resultant by-election, but the Liberal Democrat majority of 2 increased to 21,556.
Both The Times and the Oxford Student reported OUCA's 2004 campaigning tour of southern England, led by then President Oliver Pepys (Oriel). The stories centred on the fact that the group stayed with married Tory MPs Virginia and Peter Bottomley, and woke them up in the early hours of the morning by singing Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe' under their bedroom window.
Politics aside, OUCA’s social events have always been incredibly popular. Although the arrangements are left to the discretion of the President and the Social Secretary, they usually include a party, such as the legendary OUCA Garden Party every Trinity term. There is normally a trip to London to visit Parliament or a Gentleman's Club. In Trinity term there are usually sporting fixtures against the Oxford Union, Cambridge University Conservative Association or even the OULC. Other recent social events have included a poker night and an evening at one of Oxford's many exclusive nightclubs. After Port and Policy on Sunday members usually head down en masse to the King's Arms followed by the Purple Turtle.
Due to its prominence OUCA has oftened featured in the student, local, and national media. It has occasionally as a result of controversy but in recent times has been praised for its activity and support such as Lord Rees-Mogg, "Tories must listen to the Oxford Blues", Mail on Sunday, 2006-02-12.p.67.[5].
In May of 2007 OUCA featured in a documentary produced for Channel 4 titled Make Me a Tory. Featuring heavily was OUCA both at a Port & Policy debate as well as interviews with some of its Officers.
In May 2007 OUCA member and first-year historian was expelled from OUCA after giving a Nazi salute to former Conservative MP Gyles Brandreth. [6]. The incident was reported in the national press [7]. Although Brandreth said that he did not see the incident the OUCA Disciplinary Committee was called. They expelled the member, who had a patchy record, as well as banning him from all future, especially "open", events. The then President, Sam Belcher issued a statement exclaiming the disgust felt by both himself as well as the ordinary members of OUCA.
When the then Acting-President, Charlie Steel, announced his intention to sell an esteemed relic, OUCA's enormous Union flag, to raise funds, said flag was appropriated by a group calling themselves the "People’s Front for the Liberation of OUCA". The Cherwell speculated that the group was a splinter faction of the Moles Dining Club[8]. The flag was returned to OUCA after Steel handed over power but, due to its requiring cleaning, returned to events in Michaelmas 2007.
On 4th May 2006, OUCA President-Elect stood as a Conservative candidate in the council election in the Holywell ward in Oxford. He polled 165 votes, coming third behind the Liberal Democrats (564 votes), and the Green party (276 votes)[9].
However, it had been reported prior to polling day that his nomination paper was the subject of a police investigation, centering on allegations that some of the signatures on it were forged[10], and this led to calls within OUCA for his resignation.
An open letter to the Cherwell[11], signed by 24 current and former OUCA officers and officials, called on Steel to resign, despite the lack of evidence or formal charges against him. [12].
On Wednesday 3rd May, it emerged that OUCA President Simon Clarke had forged the signature of Alexander Samuels, an Ex-President of OUCA, copying it from a cheque to a bank mandate form for OUCA's bank account.[13] [14].
On Wednesday 10th May, Clarke resigned during OUCA Council, acknowledging his own contribution to the ongoing controversy. His resignation was followed by that of several other officers (including several signatories to the previous week's letter to Cherwell). The departing Treasurer and Treasurer-Elect were both reported as referred to Steel's failure to resign in their resignation statements. Ironically, following Clarke's resignation, Steel succeeded him as President[15].
In Michaelmas 2005, a visit by the RESPECT MP, George Galloway was cancelled due to constituency affairs. A minor controversy erupted over the affair, when the Oxford University Labour Club claimed that Galloway had cancelled due to the publication of an open letter by OULC's co-chairs calling on him to boycott OUCA. Not only did Galloway’s Westminster officesay that they had “not received a letter protesting against the visit, or heard anything about one”.[16], but it also transpired that he could not speak to the Oxford University Newman Society as he was detained in London. This led to the OULC backing down over the issue.
In 2002, claims about the validity the appointment as Returning Officer of Emily Wentz, girlfriend of the then-President, Jamie Gardiner, led to public disputes within OUCA, and to a "constitutional crisis" and a number of internal disciplinary tribunals.[citation needed]
In Trinity Term 2005, a Cherwell oped article referred to OUCA as "...inviting strippers to perform “lewd acts” in 1989"[18]. This event is the cause of OUCA being banned from holding events in Hertford College to this day.
- Cambridge University Conservative Association
- King's College London Conservative Society
- University College London Conservative Society
- Oxford Student: OUCA PMs to judge Gardener? (Trinity Term 2003)
- Oxford Student: Oxford Tories wake up Bottomley (Hilary Term 2003)
- Oxford Student: OUCA President survives by single vote (Hilary Term 2005)
- Oxford Student: OUCA treasurer stripped of office (Hilary Term 2006)
- Anthony Berry, "Conservative Oxford," Oxford: Oxford University Conservative Association, 1950 OCLC: 67886997
- Martin Ceadel, "The 'King and Country' Debate, 1933: Student Politics, Pacifism and the Dictators The Historical Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jun., 1979), pp. 397-422 Jstor link