Defunct
30-518: The Young Conservatives (YC) is the youth wing of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged 25 and under. The organisation shares the same values and policies as its parent political party with branches being an integrated part of local associations. College and university branches are not included, but run independently. The Junior Imperial and Constitutional League
60-419: A younger age , as well as to focus on subjects and issues more widely relevant among that organization's youth. Youth wings may also be discussion forums for younger members and supporters of the organization to debate policy and ideology. The term "youth wing" is most often used to refer to the youth wings of political parties ; in such youth wings, ranking or leading members are often seen, upon attainance of
90-624: A consortium in the North West also known as the McLeod Group led by two Young Conservative activists and parliamentary candidates Steve Perry and Stuart Lindsay who had already changed the name to the TRG. The key figure in the formation of TRG was Peter Walker MP, a former Minister in Heath's Government from 1970 to 1974. Once out of government, he was urged by MPs to form a parliamentary group that represented
120-424: A large following and, by 1955, claimed a membership of 150,000. This made it the largest political youth movement in a liberal democracy , though not all its members were strongly motivated by politics. A large part of its appeal lay in its social activities that brought young people together in a socially safe environment. Countless middle-class British couples met at the "YCs" dances, rambles, and charity events in
150-533: A minimum age of 15 years old to an upper age limit of 30 years old (although there are youth wings of political parties that have an upper age limit as high as 35). Youth wings are distinct from student wings , as the former is not necessarily established on, nor solely focused upon, a student-exclusive basis. Youth wings are not normally considered as factions of a political party, as youth wings are usually intended as youth focused extensions of party policy and ideology rather than being differently ideologised from
180-590: A programme of speakers as well as opportunities for members to become involved in constituency activities. In January 1976, TRG released its first publication, entitled Home Run by Nicholas Scott MP, the President of TRG, arguing for a nationwide extension of the GLC's sale of council houses to their tenants a key part of the Conservative policy platform. The 1980s saw TRG pitched headlong into some passionate debates within
210-694: The Monday Club and Libertarians). The moderates attempted to play up the image problems the Young Monday Club and the Libertarians would present to the organisation. Publications such as the North West Area YC Rag Mag, the Sin, featured a page in 1985 attacking the Young Monday Club image. The 1989 Sin edition attempted to target the growing libertarian threat by featuring 'Loonie Libs.' The capture of
240-453: The 1950s. In the period between it published a magazine entitled Impact . One large factor in the rapid decline in membership was the factionalism that gripped the movement in the early 1980s, first manifesting itself during Eric Pickles ' chairmanship. ... his year in office was not without its difficulties. The radical right was a growing force in young Tory politics. The S.D.P . had recently been founded and disillusioned liberals in both
270-460: The 1989 election, which resulted in the defeat of the moderate incumbent. Until then leadership had been from the Conservative party 'left' with only a couple of exceptions. Notable exceptions to the 'One Nation' moderate leadership were David Atkinson MP, who was a committed Christian campaigner and backer of corporal punishment, and Sir Fergus Montgomery MP, a supporter of apartheid South Africa and another corporal punishment advocate. Otherwise,
300-645: The Conservative Party, including over the direction of economic policy and the apartheid regime in South Africa. The TRG sees itself following the philosophies of Benjamin Disraeli 's "One Nation" and Harold Macmillan 's " Middle Way ". With an interventionist attitude, the TRG was set in the image of historical figures such as Iain Macleod and R.A. Butler . Most of the major pro-EU Conservative politicians of
330-643: The Labour and Conservative parties were deserting to the new "centre" party. At the Young Conservative's national conference in Eastbourne in February 1981, Pickles presided over a growing split in the ranks, particularly between northern "liberals" and southern "right-wingers". From that point onwards, a battle for leadership ensued between the moderates (' One Nation ' Tories, termed 'Wets') and 'Drys' (Right-wingers from
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#1733084750226360-706: The National TRG, was founded in the University of Oxford in 1962, when they split from the Oxford University Conservative Association . This branch disbanded in 2007. The Tory Reform Group (TRG) was formally established in June 1975 from the merger of four groups: PEST (Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism), two separate London dining clubs called the Macleod Group and Social Tory Action Group, and
390-586: The Party and hold public office at local and national level. These include: Patrick McLoughlin MP, Robert Atkins MP, Kenneth Lane, Anthea McIntyre MEP and Robin Squire MP. In 1998, Conservative Future was launched as the new youth wing following major reforms by William Hague , who was elected as the honorary president of Conservative Future in 2012. By 2006, it was the largest political organisation on British campuses, and
420-461: The TRG. From the start, the TRG was an activist group with membership, as opposed to being a think tank. The TRG hoped to spread its view through publication of pamphlets, discussion with MPs, use of media, and by widening its membership. Weekly lunches were inherited from PEST. London PEST had organised a Tuesday Luncheon Club in local pubs, such as Magpie and Stump in Old Bailey. These lunches provided
450-561: The YCs produced a long line of Tory reformers, until the moderate faction was finally defeated in the late 1980s, although Clive Landa's defeat of Christopher Horne (the chairman of the Hyde Park Tories) in the 1973 election in Greater London was far closer than was expected, even by the supporters of both candidates. A large number of Vice Chairmen have gone on to other prominent positions in
480-509: The Young Conservatives by the 'Dries' in 1989 led to increasing image problems as the more right-wing stance became pilloried in the media. "The very term 'Young Conservative' has actually entered popular culture in a derogatory way being used by comedians to lampoon a certain type of person." The BBC series A Bit of Fry and Laurie , featured a sketch entitled 'Young Conservative of the Year',
510-408: The appointment of Ben Bradley as Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for youth and with a focus on young members, the party announced at its spring forum it was relaunching a youth branch under the original name 'Young Conservatives'. The structure of Young Conservative branches will be integrated with local Associations and into the wider voluntary party with officers being elected by members of
540-470: The association. University YC branches will operate independently. The organisation aims to increase youth ownership and engagement in local associations by focusing on activities which are tangible for the success of the party. After the publication of the Chequers Brexit white paper Ben Bradley tendered his resignation as Vice Chairman for youth and was subsequently succeeded by Tom Pursglove . Pursglove
570-464: The basis of which was an arrogant, right-wing and upper class Young Conservative competing in a mock contest on the reactionary and authoritarian content of his speech in a mock contest. In the BBC series Harry Enfield and Chums , Harry Enfield played a character called ' Tory Boy ', an arrogant and reactionary right-wing Young Conservative. Membership fell from a peak of 250,000 to just a few thousand, while
600-596: The core of the short lived Pro-Euro Conservative Party , which disbanded in favour of the Liberal Democrats within three years of being formed. The TRG is commonly seen as supporting the European Union. However, it has no official position on UK membership of the EU and includes many Eurosceptics among its members and supporters. In the past, some Conservatives, who were also members of the TRG, have defected to parties to
630-420: The estimated membership, including members on campuses and through constituency associations, may once have totalled 20,000. On 19 November 2015, the entire executive of the organisation was suspended, and the youth wing taken under direct control by the Conservative Party. The national Conservative Future was eventually disbanded; however, Conservative Future Scotland continued to function. In 2018, following
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#1733084750226660-475: The group consider a moderate one-nation conservatism . Senior figures include Michael Heseltine , Douglas Hurd , Kenneth Clarke , and Chris Patten . The TRG supported David Cameron , who described TRG as "central to where we need to be in the future". The group has an events programme and publications, principally its journal. Members include parliamentarians, councillors, association officers and private individuals. The oldest known branch, which pre-dated
690-616: The last thirty years have at one time or another been associated with the Tory Reform Group, including TRG president Ken Clarke, patrons including John Major, and other senior TRG figures such as Damian Green. The TRG was a constituent organisation of Conservative Mainstream alongside the Conservative Europe Group and Parliamentary Mainstream, and at one time were all run from shared offices in Westminster. TRG members formed
720-628: The leadership of the party proper. However, sometimes they may advocate for different issues within the scope of the party ideology than the party as a whole. Tory Reform Group Defunct The Tory Reform Group ( TRG ) is a pressure group associated with the British Conservative Party that works to promote "modern, progressive Conservatism [...] economic efficiency and social justice" and "a Conservatism that supports equality, diversity and civil liberties", values sometimes associated with Harold Macmillan 's " Middle Way " or what
750-691: The liberal Conservative view of the Tory Party. Walker was reluctant to form such a group at first, not least because he was sensitive to the damaging effects the Tribune Group had wrought on Labour and did not like the idea of similarly factionalising the Conservative Party. As time passed, however, other groups emerged, including right-wing Conservative groups, and the perceived need for a counteracting group increased. At his home in Westminster, Walker met with chairmen of four organisations he had previously had contact with, and they agreed to come together to form
780-502: The minimum age requirement, as potential leaders or bureaucrats of the main political party. This has led to a perception of political party youth wings as being mere gateways of employment opportunity in the government bureaucracy for younger members, especially in the case of dominant- or one-party systems where a party is ensured of victory at the polls. Political party youth wings mostly consist of young adults . The age requirement for most political party youth wings ranges between
810-410: The rival organisation Conservative Students claimed significantly more members. The end came in 1998 when Conservative leader William Hague announced the closure of Young Conservatives and the launch of a new organisation, Conservative Future . The National Chairmen of the Young Conservatives were associated with the moderate (One Nation - Tory Reform Group ) tradition of the Conservative Party until
840-685: Was formed as the juvenile branch of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations . It closed down during the Second World War . After the Conservative Party suffered a catastrophic defeat in the 1945 general election , the Young Britons Organisation was reformed to cater for both boys and girls aged 6–16, while the Young Conservatives was set up to cater for an older age group. The Young Conservatives attracted
870-530: Was formed in 1906 with objectives to encourage practical political work and organisation among young people in Britain. Junior Associations were set up in each Parliamentary Division and throughout the British Empire , co-operating closely with Conservative and Unionist Associations with an ambition to create Imperial unity and to further the Conservative and Unionist cause. In 1925, the Young Britons Organisation
900-489: Was replaced by Nigel Huddleston in February 2019, and Pursglove was replaced by Andrew Bowie in July 2019 after Boris Johnson took office. Youth wing A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization (usually a political party but occasionally another type of organization) that is formed in order to rally support for that organization from members and potential members of
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