Cllr Seb James is a councillor for Bowbrook Ward on Worcestershire County Council.
Let’s face it: being a Conservative under 30 is tough in the modern world. There is constant pressure from the social media sphere to believe that you must either be a Reformer or a Green, with very little acknowledgement of the true centre-right party—the Conservatives. What is even tougher is making the jump from supporter to activist.
Since being named one of the Sunday Times 30 Under 30, my inbox has been flooded with messages from young Conservatives asking how I got here. How did I go from being a young carer on the brink of failing my GCSEs to becoming the CCA’s New Councillor of the Year and a 30 Under 30 honouree?
The honest answer: Kemi Badenoch.
When I say that, I am not suggesting that Kemi has personally headhunted me or handed me an A‑list pass. I would go as far as to say she has no idea who I am. But this is a key reality that young Conservatives must accept: we are the foot soldiers on the ground. While we cannot skewer Keir Starmer each week from the despatch box, Kemi provides the ammunition—and we are the ones firing the shots on the doorstep, unpicking the arguments of other parties door by door.
Many of the messages I received were from young people asking whether they should get involved in elections at all. A sense of “coming out” to their families and communities was a common thread. Messages ranged from “my nan doesn’t know I’m a Tory” to “my neighbour won’t like it.”
My advice is simple. Conservatism is instinctive to many people. Wanting the best for your community, taking pride in where you live, and believing in aspiration and responsibility—that is conservatism. So to those young people asking what they should do, my answer is: just do it. Get your name on the ballot paper. A Conservative candidate on the ballot shows people that we aren’t dead—that we are still here and ready to fight for financial literacy, better services, and stronger communities.
It’s not just about standing as a council candidate. We are also in AGM season—the part of the party where real politics happens. Many young people (myself included) feel frustrated at times with some associations’ approaches to modern campaigning. While some still believe a single leaflet and a blue rosette are enough, a new wave of young Conservatives understands how to operate in the digital space—a space that has too often been dominated by Reform.
Now, Conservatives are starting to show their strengths: producing engaging digital content and challenging other parties where they thought they were untouchable. All of this starts at association level. Roles such as Deputy Chair (Political), Social Media Officer, and Campaigning Officer are perfectly suited to the next generation.
I have been fortunate to have had many opportunities, but all of them came from making myself available whenever the local party needed help. A rainy Saturday canvassing session? I’m there. An online training session with our Area DCP? I’m there—often just her and me. A fundraising dinner? I’m there too, usually after lobbying for a reduced Young Conservative ticket.
There is sometimes wariness about Young Conservatives, with assumptions that we are mavericks or disruptors. The reality is that YCs are not disruptors—we are enablers. We want to get things done because we are fed up with a political system that feels disconnected from everyday life and dismissive of our values.
My advice, and always will be, is to take every opportunity. Your background—no matter how difficult—is your greatest strength. Westminster is built on lived experience, and it is the responsibility of young Conservatives to ensure that our generation’s experiences are represented.
So much can be achieved if you simply refuse to take no for an answer.
I remember a one‑to‑one conversation with Kemi at the West Midlands Regional Conference. I asked why young people so often feel capped at council level until their mid‑30s or 40s, and why parliamentary selection seems out of reach. She laughed and said, “That’s not my Conservative Party.” True to her word, under‑30s are now being approved as candidates across the country.
To anyone reading this and wondering whether they should get involved in their local association, my answer is unequivocal: do it. When Kemi says we are under new leadership, she means it. The party has changed, the faces have changed, and the values have never been clearer.
The Conservative Party can enable anyone to achieve their potential.