University of Warwick Conservative Association

Infobox Association
name = University of Warwick
Conservative Association

foundation = 1965
institution = University of Warwick
president = Rt Hon David Davis MP
chairman = James Berragan
Deputy Chairman (financial) = Matt Alderson
Deputy Chairman (political) = Nick Jones
Secretary = Charles Tongue
Social Secretary = Faye Lawson
Commitee Members = Peter Thomas, Sam Shirley, Thomas Wales
website = http://www.uwca.co.uk/
ideology = Centre Right/Libertarian

The University of Warwick Conservative Association is the largest political society at Warwick University dedicated to ensuring a strong centre-right/libertarian voice is heard on campus. The society prides itself on attracting a diverse range of political beliefs from all walks of life. The society also has a strong social programme, dedicated to the consumption of much port [http://www.uwca.co.uk/photos.html] . Each year a variety of speakers are invited to address the society, other events have included trips to the House of Commons, local Association Black-tie dinners and trips to meet John Major and Michael Howard.

The society has been present on campus since the University was founded in 1965. Those few past members who have gone on to rise through the ranks of the party include David Davis, Shadow Home Secretary and failed leadership contender and Tim Loughton, the Shadow Minister for Children, who was Secretary of Warwick Conservatives from 1981-82. The Society also has a long tradition of achieving extremely low vote counts in Union elections [http://uk.geocities.com/AndrewTeale/warwick03p.html] but since 2005 candidates have been scoring progressively more votes. A Constitution for the Society was agreed and signed in July 2005 at the society's Chingford Constitutional Convention [http://www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/warwickconservatives/gallery/chingford/chingford.htm] . As one of the grey-brick universities, the society, together with similar bodies at other grey-brick universities has a long tradition of libertarian thought and acts as a stand-alone body rather than as a branch of the national Conservative Party.

The Association is consistently the largest political grouping at Warwick University averaging 80 paid up members per year with a strong, growing network of supporting alumni.

tudents' Union Elections

The society has a strong tradition of running the Students' Union elections. In 2005, the then Chairman Bill Rees came 5th out of 9 candidates gaining a respectable 183 votes in the 1st round for President. In 2008, James Berragan, Peter Thomas and Thomas Wales ran together on 'The Right Direction' slate for President, Vice-President and Societies Officer respectively. Berragan came 3rd/4 with 290 votes; Thomas came in 4th with 346 votes and Wales 6th with 133 votes.

The 1965 Committee

This is the ruling Committee of the Society. The current members are:

*Life President: Rt Hon David Davis MP, 2007-present
*Chairman: James Berragan
*Deputy Chairman (Financial): Matthew Alderson
*Deputy Chairman (Political): Nick Jones
*Secretary: Charles James Pearson Tongue
*Social Secretary: Faye Lawson
*Committee Members: Peter Thomas, Sam Shirley, Thomas Wales

Previous 1965 Committee Chairmen

*Unknown (1965-1997)
*Alex Banks, 1997-1998
*Kevin Foster, 1998-1999
*Simon Eardley, 1999-2000
*James Griffen, 2000-2001
*Hayden Allan, 2001-2002
*Simon Baker, 2002-2003
*James Turgoose, 2003-2004
*Richard Sherwell, 2004-2005
*Bill Rees, 2005-2006
*Matt Hartley, 2006-2007

Previous 1965 Committee Treasurers & Deputy Chairmen (Financial)

*Unknown (1965-2002)
*James Turgoose, 2002-2003
*Alex Wilson, 2003-2004
*Francis Kershaw, 2004-2005
*Neil Gillies, 2005-2006
*Nick Kinrade, 2006-2007

Previous 1965 Committee Deputy Chairmen (Political)

*Unknown (1965-2002)
*James Turgoose, 2002-2003
*Richard Sherwell, 2003-2004
*Bill Rees, 2004-2005
*Neil Gillies, 2005-2006
*Cristian Smith, 2006-2007

Previous 1965 Committee Secretaries

*Tim Loughton, 1981-1982
*Cristian Smith, 2004-2005
*Matt Hartley, 2005-2006
*Matthew Alderson, 2006-2007

External links

* [http://www.uwca.co.uk Society Website]
* [http://www.warwicksu.com/ Warwick Students' Union Website]
* [http://www.conservatives.com/ The Conservative Party]
* [http://www.warwick.ac.uk/ Warwick University]