Chairman of the Conservative Party explained

Post:Chairman of the
Conservative Party
Insignia:Conservatives logo.svg
Insigniasize:200px
Insigniacaption:Logo for the Conservative Party
Incumbent:Richard Fuller
Acting:yes
Incumbentsince:8 July 2024
Appointer:Leader of the Conservative Party
Deputy:Jack Lopresti
Nickie Aiken
Jonathan Gullis
Matt Vickers
Vice:Sara Britcliffe (for Youth)
Saqib Bhatti (for Business)
Alexander Stafford (for Policy)
Termlength:At the pleasure of the Leader of the Conservative Party
Formation:1911
Inaugural:Arthur Steel-Maitland

The Chairman of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is responsible for party administration and overseeing the Conservative Campaign Headquarters, formerly Conservative Central Office.

When the Conservatives are in government, the officeholder is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio. Deputy or Vice Chairmen of the Conservative Party may also be appointed, with responsibility for specific aspects of the party. The Chairman of the Conservative Party is Richard Fuller, serving as interim Chairman following the resignation of Richard Holden.

The role of Deputy Chairman is currently held by one Member of Parliament, Matt Vickers, and seven former MPs, Sara Britcliffe, James Daly, Angela Richardson, Rachel Maclean (Women), Jack Lopresti, Nickie Aiken (Party Board) and Jonathan Gullis. The role was created in 1911 in response to the Conservative party's defeat in the second 1910 general election. The position is not subject to election, as it is given by the party leader.[1]

List

Key

Member of the House of Commons
Member of the House of Lords
Non-parliamentarian

List

ChairmanTerm of officeElectionMinisterial officesLeaderRef
Arthur Steel-Maitland
19111916Bonar Law[2]
Sir George Younger, Bt.
191619231918
1922
1923
[3]
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Jackson
192319261924
John Davidson
192619301929
Neville Chamberlain

1930

1931
John Baird
Viscount Stonehaven
193119361931
1935
Sir Douglas Hacking
19361942
Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Thomas Dugdale
1942
1944
Ralph Assheton

1944

1946
1945
Frederick Marquis
Earl of Woolton

1946

1955
1950
1951
1955
Lord President of the Council
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of Materials
Anthony Eden
Oliver Poole
1955

1957
[4]
Harold Macmillan
Quintin Hogg
Viscount Hailsham

1957

1959
1959Lord President of the Council
Rab Butler

1959

1961
Home Secretary
Leader of the House of Commons
Iain Macleod

1961

1963
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Leader of the House of Commons
Oliver Poole
Baron Poole

1963
John Hare
Viscount Blakenham

1963

1965
1964Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Alec Douglas-Home
Edward du Cann

1965

1967
1966
Edward Heath
Anthony Barber

1967

1970
1970
Peter Thomas

1970

1972
Secretary of State for Wales
Peter Carington
Baron Carrington

1972

1974
Feb 1974Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Energy
William Whitelaw

1974

1975
Oct 1974
Peter Thorneycroft
Baron Thorneycroft

1975

1981
1979Margaret Thatcher
Cecil Parkinson

1981

1983
1983Paymaster General
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
John Gummer

1983

1985
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Employment
Minister of State for Employment
Paymaster General
Norman Tebbit

1985

1987
1987Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Peter Brooke

1987

1989
Paymaster General
Kenneth Baker

1989

1990
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chris Patten

1990

1992
1992Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJohn Major[5]
Sir Norman Fowler

1992

1994
Attended Cabinet
Jeremy Hanley

1994

1995
Minister without portfolio
Brian Mawhinney

1995

1997
1997Minister without portfolio
Cecil Parkinson
Baron Parkinson

1997

1998
William Hague
Michael Ancram
Earl of Ancram


1998

2001
2001
David Davis

2001

2002
Iain Duncan Smith
Theresa May

2002

2003
Liam Fox

2003

2005
2005Michael Howard
Maurice Saatchi
Baron Saatchi

2003
Francis Maude

2005

2007
David Cameron
Caroline Spelman

2007

2009
Eric Pickles

2009

2010
2010
Andrew Feldman
Baron Feldman of Elstree

2010

2016
2015
Sayeeda Warsi
Baroness Warsi

2010

2012
Minister without portfolio[6]
Grant Shapps

2012

2015
2015Minister without portfolio
Sir Patrick McLoughlin

2016

2018
2017Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterTheresa May
Brandon Lewis

2018

2019
Minister without portfolio[7]
Ben Elliot
2019

2022
2019Boris Johnson
James Cleverly

2020
Minister without portfolio[8]
Amanda Milling

2020

2021
Minister without portfolio[9]
Oliver Dowden

2021

2022
Minister without portfolio
Andrew Stephenson

2022

2022
Minister without portfolio
Sir Jake Berry

2022

2022
Minister without portfolioLiz Truss
Nadhim Zahawi

2022

2023
Minister without portfolioRishi Sunak
Greg Hands

2023

2023
Minister without portfolio
Richard Holden

2023

2024
Minister without portfolio
Richard Fuller

2024
Incumbent

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Conservatives - A History . Bantam Press . Harris, Robin . 2011 . London . 9780593065112 . (p. 249) After the second election defeat of 1910 there was an unstoppable pressure for an enquiry into the party's failures. A committee recommended that two new posts be created - that of party treasurer and that of chairman of the party (enjoying 'Cabinet rank'). ... Balfour accepted the changes but tried to reduce the status of the chairman, a position which he significantly (and permanently) re-titled 'chairman of the party organization'. He also concealed, as long as he could, the 'Cabinet rank' pledge. Finally he appointed a rather junior but, as it turned out, vigorous and assertive Birmingham member of parliament, Arthur Steel-Maitland, to the chairmanship..
  2. Book: Harris, Robin . The Conservatives - A History . Bantam Press . 2011 . 9780593065112 . London.
  3. Book: Stewart, Graham . Burying Caesar - Churchill, Chamberlain and the Battle for the Tory Party . Phoenix . 1999 . 9780753810606 . London.
  4. Book: Sampson, Anthony . Who Runs This Place? . John Murray . 2004 . 0719565642 . London.
  5. Book: Patten, Chris . Not Quite the Diplomat . Allen Lane . 2005 . 0713998555 . London.
  6. Web site: Baroness Warsi . 27 July 2021 . UK Parliament.
  7. Web site: Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP . 26 July 2021 . UK Parliament.
  8. Web site: Rt Hon James Cleverly MP . 26 July 2021 . UK Parliament.
  9. Web site: Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP . 26 July 2021 . UK Parliament.