Simon Whelband is Leader of Harborough District Council and Vice-Chair (Outreach) of LGBT+ Conservatives.
Last Wednesday evening I attended the official opening of the new Conservative Campaign Headquarters in Castle Lane, just a stone’s throw from Victoria.
The new headquarters has been years in the making.
The Conservative Foundation has worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition, purchasing the building outright and securing a permanent home for the Party. In the years ahead it will save millions in rent and provide a modern base from which we can fight future elections. Having heard about the project for so long, I was excited to finally see it for myself.
There is also something symbolic about the Party owning its own headquarters once again. For years, CCHQ has operated from rented accommodation, but this building represents a long-term investment in the future of the Conservative movement. At a time when political parties face increasing financial pressures, the foresight shown by the Conservative Foundation in securing a permanent asset should not be underestimated. It is not the most glamorous topic in politics, but it is the sort of careful stewardship that helps ensure the Party remains on a sound footing for years to come.
I had begun to wonder whether the event was still happening. Having confirmed my attendance months ago, there had been no reminder emails, and everything had gone suspiciously quiet. However, any concerns quickly disappeared when my colleague and I turned into Castle Lane and spotted a very familiar blonde mop of hair making its way up the steps of the building. Boris Johnson had arrived, accompanied by Carrie. We followed immediately behind them, where our names were carefully checked – a courtesy apparently not extended to the Johnsons.
Inside there was a real buzz. The room was packed with MPs, Party officers, members of the National Convention and countless other familiar faces. Blue hard hats bearing the words “CCHQ 2026” adorned the windowsills, while English sparkling wine was being served – not, I should add, at the expense of members’ subscriptions before anyone starts writing letters.
What struck me most was the atmosphere. The Party has endured a difficult few years and nobody is under any illusions about the scale of the challenge that lies ahead. Yet there was a genuine sense of optimism in the room. People were not dwelling on the past; they were talking about the future. On one level, the opening of a new headquarters is simply a property matter. On another, it is a statement of confidence. It says that despite the setbacks and disappointments of recent years, the Conservative Party is preparing itself for the long haul and intends to remain a major force in British politics.
After a period of mingling and a spirited game of Tory Who’s Who with my colleague, we heard speeches from Kemi Badenoch, Boris Johnson and Theresa May, alongside video messages from David Cameron and Rishi Sunak.
Yet despite all the former Prime Ministers and Party grandees in attendance, the person I was most keen to meet was someone who did not give a speech at all.
Michael Howard.
The day after Michael Howard became Leader of the Conservative Party in 2003, I joined.
I was sixteen years old.
At that age I knew little about Michael Howard’s ministerial career or his time in Government. Ann Widdecombe had famously said there was “something of the night” about him, but as a sixteen-year-old that was neither something I knew, nor cared about.
What I saw was someone who represented renewal. Here was an unashamed Conservative who was comfortable arguing for Conservative principles and determined to take the fight to Labour. He seemed to understand what many ordinary voters were thinking and, more importantly, wasn’t afraid to say it. For a young Conservative at the time, that was exciting.
I loved watching his exchanges with Tony Blair at Prime Minister’s Questions. Looking back now, they feel like something of a golden age of parliamentary debate. Here was a man who was entirely unapologetic about challenging the Government and arguing for Conservative principles.
Our slogan at the 2005 General Election was “Are You Thinking What We’re Thinking?” and, more often than not, I was. I wanted tougher action on crime, greater discipline in schools, cleaner hospitals and a controlled immigration system. Whether one agreed with every policy or not, there was a sense that the Party once again knew what it stood for.
So when I had the opportunity to meet Lord Howard of Lympne that night, I wanted to thank him. It was because of him that I joined the Party, and it was a pleasure to tell him so. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear it.
Michael Howard did not personally lead us back into Government. But he started the process. In 2005 we gained seats, won the popular vote in England and laid the foundations for the recovery that eventually returned the Conservatives to office.
As I listened to the speeches marking the opening of our new headquarters, I was struck by a remark from one of the speakers – and I’m afraid I can’t remember who. Borrowing Churchill’s famous words, they said that the acquisition of our new headquarters was not the end of the story, nor even the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning.
The comparison resonated with me because it could just as easily have been applied to Michael Howard’s leadership. He did not complete the journey back to Government, but he began it. In much the same way, our new headquarters is not a destination in itself. It is a foundation on which the Party can begin building again. The hard work lies ahead, but every successful journey has to start somewhere.
And yes, before anyone asks, I did manage to snaffle one of the commemorative CCHQ hard hats on my way out. After all, twenty-three years of membership must come with some perks.
Simon Whelband is Leader of Harborough District Council and Vice-Chair (Outreach) of LGBT+ Conservatives.
Last Wednesday evening I attended the official opening of the new Conservative Campaign Headquarters in Castle Lane, just a stone’s throw from Victoria.
The new headquarters has been years in the making.
The Conservative Foundation has worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition, purchasing the building outright and securing a permanent home for the Party. In the years ahead it will save millions in rent and provide a modern base from which we can fight future elections. Having heard about the project for so long, I was excited to finally see it for myself.
There is also something symbolic about the Party owning its own headquarters once again. For years, CCHQ has operated from rented accommodation, but this building represents a long-term investment in the future of the Conservative movement. At a time when political parties face increasing financial pressures, the foresight shown by the Conservative Foundation in securing a permanent asset should not be underestimated. It is not the most glamorous topic in politics, but it is the sort of careful stewardship that helps ensure the Party remains on a sound footing for years to come.
I had begun to wonder whether the event was still happening. Having confirmed my attendance months ago, there had been no reminder emails, and everything had gone suspiciously quiet. However, any concerns quickly disappeared when my colleague and I turned into Castle Lane and spotted a very familiar blonde mop of hair making its way up the steps of the building. Boris Johnson had arrived, accompanied by Carrie. We followed immediately behind them, where our names were carefully checked – a courtesy apparently not extended to the Johnsons.
Inside there was a real buzz. The room was packed with MPs, Party officers, members of the National Convention and countless other familiar faces. Blue hard hats bearing the words “CCHQ 2026” adorned the windowsills, while English sparkling wine was being served – not, I should add, at the expense of members’ subscriptions before anyone starts writing letters.
What struck me most was the atmosphere. The Party has endured a difficult few years and nobody is under any illusions about the scale of the challenge that lies ahead. Yet there was a genuine sense of optimism in the room. People were not dwelling on the past; they were talking about the future. On one level, the opening of a new headquarters is simply a property matter. On another, it is a statement of confidence. It says that despite the setbacks and disappointments of recent years, the Conservative Party is preparing itself for the long haul and intends to remain a major force in British politics.
After a period of mingling and a spirited game of Tory Who’s Who with my colleague, we heard speeches from Kemi Badenoch, Boris Johnson and Theresa May, alongside video messages from David Cameron and Rishi Sunak.
Yet despite all the former Prime Ministers and Party grandees in attendance, the person I was most keen to meet was someone who did not give a speech at all.
Michael Howard.
The day after Michael Howard became Leader of the Conservative Party in 2003, I joined.
I was sixteen years old.
At that age I knew little about Michael Howard’s ministerial career or his time in Government. Ann Widdecombe had famously said there was “something of the night” about him, but as a sixteen-year-old that was neither something I knew, nor cared about.
What I saw was someone who represented renewal. Here was an unashamed Conservative who was comfortable arguing for Conservative principles and determined to take the fight to Labour. He seemed to understand what many ordinary voters were thinking and, more importantly, wasn’t afraid to say it. For a young Conservative at the time, that was exciting.
I loved watching his exchanges with Tony Blair at Prime Minister’s Questions. Looking back now, they feel like something of a golden age of parliamentary debate. Here was a man who was entirely unapologetic about challenging the Government and arguing for Conservative principles.
Our slogan at the 2005 General Election was “Are You Thinking What We’re Thinking?” and, more often than not, I was. I wanted tougher action on crime, greater discipline in schools, cleaner hospitals and a controlled immigration system. Whether one agreed with every policy or not, there was a sense that the Party once again knew what it stood for.
So when I had the opportunity to meet Lord Howard of Lympne that night, I wanted to thank him. It was because of him that I joined the Party, and it was a pleasure to tell him so. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear it.
Michael Howard did not personally lead us back into Government. But he started the process. In 2005 we gained seats, won the popular vote in England and laid the foundations for the recovery that eventually returned the Conservatives to office.
As I listened to the speeches marking the opening of our new headquarters, I was struck by a remark from one of the speakers – and I’m afraid I can’t remember who. Borrowing Churchill’s famous words, they said that the acquisition of our new headquarters was not the end of the story, nor even the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning.
The comparison resonated with me because it could just as easily have been applied to Michael Howard’s leadership. He did not complete the journey back to Government, but he began it. In much the same way, our new headquarters is not a destination in itself. It is a foundation on which the Party can begin building again. The hard work lies ahead, but every successful journey has to start somewhere.
And yes, before anyone asks, I did manage to snaffle one of the commemorative CCHQ hard hats on my way out. After all, twenty-three years of membership must come with some perks.