Andrew Stephenson is Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, and is MP for Pendle.
As a party, we have a shared belief in equality of opportunity and aspiration, that everyone should have the chance to succeed no matter their background, wherever you live or work in our country.
During the coming weeks, you will hear more about that shared belief by those seeking to be our party’s next leader and Prime Minister. While many will seek to frame the current leadership contest as a moment of division for the party, I am proud that we can show off the best our party has to offer.
And nothing shows our commitment to our values than the show of diversity and talent on display among our exceptional leadership candidates. It provides hope for the years ahead, and I congratulate all our contenders for their energy and positivity in approaching this contest.
Sadly, we have seen so-called ‘liberals’ reveal their bigotry in trying to discredit candidates from minority backgrounds in this competition simply for being Conservatives. The colour of your skin does not determine your political views, and the diversity at the top of our party is a testament to that. I am proud to chair a party that judges individuals on the strength of their abilities and their vision for the country. This party represents the true diversity of Modern Britain.
Undoubtedly, my appointment as Conservative Party Chairman comes at a challenging time in politics. But I’m honoured to have been given this opportunity to build on the incredible work of my predecessor Oliver Dowden, support the Prime Minister over the next few months and help the team at CCHQ continue their fantastic work.
We’ve got Campaign 2023 to prepare for. And, two years from now, we’ve got a general election to win.
And what an election it will be. Labour and the Lib Dems are already making pacts all over the UK, recognising that the only route to Downing Street is to form a Frankenstein coalition. In the 2022 Local Elections, Labour stood candidates in only 61 per cent of seats in the South West, compared to 97 per cent in 2018. They know they can’t beat us on their own, so they have chosen to deny many electors the chance to vote for them—an affront to democracy.
And in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon will be pressing ahead with her plans for a second divisive independence referendum instead of focusing on Scotland’s recovery and fixing its public services because the SNP have nothing to offer the people of Scotland except division. We are Unionists, and we must stand firmly against separatism, offering the people of Scotland a positive vision for their future within our fantastic United Kingdom.
So, in the face of all that, let me reassure you. As your Chairman, I will relentlessly champion our values and ensure our campaign machine is battle-ready to help us win that historic fifth election.
Campaigning is in my blood; it’s what I know and what I’m passionate about. I have increased my vote share in every election fought in Pendle since I was first elected in 2010 and helped to coordinate the historic by-election campaign win in Copeland in 2016.
I joined the party when I was 16, was first elected a councillor at 22 and then won a marginal Parliamentary seat from Labour when I was 29. And before entering Parliament, I served our party as a volunteer and activist, as an Association Chairman, as an Area Officer and a Deputy Chairman of our party’s youth wing.
I’ve put in the hours campaigning in marginal seats across the country, making thousands of calls from the party’s call centre, and even getting dressed up as a butler to follow defector Shaun Woodward round with a tray of drinks! I know the time our volunteers put in and that it is they who are the lifeblood of our party.
And I can guarantee that under my Chairmanship, members will be front and centre of the leadership contest. Over the coming weeks, you will get the chance to question our candidates, have your voice heard and help shape the future of our country. It’s an enormous privilege and responsibility for every one of us, but I know it is one we will fulfil with the seriousness it deserves.
Because who wins the leadership election will be the person standing between Nicola Sturgeon and the breakup of the Union, the Lib Dems and their Re-Join agenda and the only person who can stop Sir Keir Starmer from entering Downing Street. It will be our job to stand with them.
So this is my message to all the candidates and their supporters. Let’s have an energetic contest, have some spirited debates – and then let’s unite as we always do and take the fight to Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP.
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the most extraordinary campaign machine in British politics. And I know that with the support of members and ConservativeHome readers, we’ll do what we do best: win elections.
Andrew Stephenson is Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, and is MP for Pendle.
As a party, we have a shared belief in equality of opportunity and aspiration, that everyone should have the chance to succeed no matter their background, wherever you live or work in our country.
During the coming weeks, you will hear more about that shared belief by those seeking to be our party’s next leader and Prime Minister. While many will seek to frame the current leadership contest as a moment of division for the party, I am proud that we can show off the best our party has to offer.
And nothing shows our commitment to our values than the show of diversity and talent on display among our exceptional leadership candidates. It provides hope for the years ahead, and I congratulate all our contenders for their energy and positivity in approaching this contest.
Sadly, we have seen so-called ‘liberals’ reveal their bigotry in trying to discredit candidates from minority backgrounds in this competition simply for being Conservatives. The colour of your skin does not determine your political views, and the diversity at the top of our party is a testament to that. I am proud to chair a party that judges individuals on the strength of their abilities and their vision for the country. This party represents the true diversity of Modern Britain.
Undoubtedly, my appointment as Conservative Party Chairman comes at a challenging time in politics. But I’m honoured to have been given this opportunity to build on the incredible work of my predecessor Oliver Dowden, support the Prime Minister over the next few months and help the team at CCHQ continue their fantastic work.
We’ve got Campaign 2023 to prepare for. And, two years from now, we’ve got a general election to win.
And what an election it will be. Labour and the Lib Dems are already making pacts all over the UK, recognising that the only route to Downing Street is to form a Frankenstein coalition. In the 2022 Local Elections, Labour stood candidates in only 61 per cent of seats in the South West, compared to 97 per cent in 2018. They know they can’t beat us on their own, so they have chosen to deny many electors the chance to vote for them—an affront to democracy.
And in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon will be pressing ahead with her plans for a second divisive independence referendum instead of focusing on Scotland’s recovery and fixing its public services because the SNP have nothing to offer the people of Scotland except division. We are Unionists, and we must stand firmly against separatism, offering the people of Scotland a positive vision for their future within our fantastic United Kingdom.
So, in the face of all that, let me reassure you. As your Chairman, I will relentlessly champion our values and ensure our campaign machine is battle-ready to help us win that historic fifth election.
Campaigning is in my blood; it’s what I know and what I’m passionate about. I have increased my vote share in every election fought in Pendle since I was first elected in 2010 and helped to coordinate the historic by-election campaign win in Copeland in 2016.
I joined the party when I was 16, was first elected a councillor at 22 and then won a marginal Parliamentary seat from Labour when I was 29. And before entering Parliament, I served our party as a volunteer and activist, as an Association Chairman, as an Area Officer and a Deputy Chairman of our party’s youth wing.
I’ve put in the hours campaigning in marginal seats across the country, making thousands of calls from the party’s call centre, and even getting dressed up as a butler to follow defector Shaun Woodward round with a tray of drinks! I know the time our volunteers put in and that it is they who are the lifeblood of our party.
And I can guarantee that under my Chairmanship, members will be front and centre of the leadership contest. Over the coming weeks, you will get the chance to question our candidates, have your voice heard and help shape the future of our country. It’s an enormous privilege and responsibility for every one of us, but I know it is one we will fulfil with the seriousness it deserves.
Because who wins the leadership election will be the person standing between Nicola Sturgeon and the breakup of the Union, the Lib Dems and their Re-Join agenda and the only person who can stop Sir Keir Starmer from entering Downing Street. It will be our job to stand with them.
So this is my message to all the candidates and their supporters. Let’s have an energetic contest, have some spirited debates – and then let’s unite as we always do and take the fight to Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP.
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the most extraordinary campaign machine in British politics. And I know that with the support of members and ConservativeHome readers, we’ll do what we do best: win elections.