How many Conservative Party members are familiar with the Party Constitution, do you suppose? I would say very few indeed, and would contend that it is likely that most Party members have never given it any thought whatsoever.
So when members received an email from the Chair of the Conservative Party National Convention recently, asking for their views on it, they may well have been quite non-plussed.
First things first: let me fill a gap by providing a link to the current constitution.
https://public.conservatives.com/organisation-department/202101/Conservative Party Constitution as amended January 2021.pdf
This seems to me to be the starting point to making an informed response to this message and to the associated survey:
The Party’s Constitution, last updated in 2021, underpins the way the Party is run. As with any credible organisation, especially one which aspires to run the country, it is a pre-requisite to be able to run our own affairs fairly, robustly and transparently. Reviewing the Constitution is therefore important, especially following our defeat in the General Election last year. We have to learn from our past mistakes and apply those lessons to our own structure (just as we are doing in terms of our policy platform). To that end the Party Board has instigated a thorough review of the Party’s Constitution, which will run into 2026 and involve all members and elected representatives. A dedicated committee will coordinate this work and will consult on potential changes in various phases, each covering different topics. At the end of it the changes will be put to a vote of the Constitutional College (in line with the terms of the current Constitution). The members of the committee want to hear your views on which subjects within the Constitution you think need to be focused on most, as well as your views on high level principles for guiding the review.
You can find the survey here:
I would say that it is always a good idea to consider the structure of any institution to ensure it continues to serve its purpose to optimal effect. However, this cannot be done without a degree of familiarity with the structure in question. In this case, that is the Party Constitution and I thoroughly recommend a thorough read before attempting to answer the questionnaire.
John Strafford is an expert on the Party Constitution and it is well worth taking his opinions into account when considering the survey. You can find them here:
https://copov.blogspot.com/2025/07/good-news-review-of-conservative-party.html
And finally, for those who are uncertain about the structure of the Party, allow me to direct you to my blog, where I answer many of the questions you may have.
Knowledge is power and if CCHQ is to truly make the most of its current process of renewal, the more members who understand the workings of our great Party, the better.
© Joanna Reeves, all rights reserved.