Conservative, Constitutional, Salisbury, Beaconsfield and Unionist: there are more than 230 of these clubs across the North West and some of the most popular clubs can be found in the safest Labour seats.
Throughout my time as a member, activist and, more recently as an MEP, I have found their work to be a vitally important part of the Conservative family in the North West.
The Clubs do a fantastic job of not only providing a social side to politics but also helping to raise money for our Party.
I was delighted to become President of the North West Clubs, following in the footsteps of Tim Collins. This gives me the opportunity to formally say ‘thanks’ for the tremendous contribution of the clubs to the Party.
In many constituencies, the Clubs can offer a really good focal point for the local party as a place to meet and to run our campaigns.
Equally, among Club members, there are potential Party activists and candidates just waiting to be asked. That, if for no other reason, is why we must encourage even closer working relationships.
I make sure that the Clubs receive my newsletters and mailings and I am always keen to hear their views, over the bar, in their lounge or at the side of the bowling green!
During the General Election, many of our local campaigns were based in the clubs, and they offered a good opportunity to combine work and play!
Jacqueline Foster is a Conservative MEP in the North West of England and is Spokesman on Transport and Tourism in the European Parliament. Visit her website and follow her Tweets here.
( 1 comments ) Tags: Beaconsfield, Conservative Clubs, Constitutional, fundraising, General Election, North West, Salisbury, Unionist
Comment by F Wilson on July 23, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Clubs all over the country used to be a place to be social, raise much needed funds for charities and of course discuss politcs,sport,work and all manner of things,that was until the Smoking ban, now we see near empty clubs being forced out of Business along with thousands of local Pubs and all because of the ill thought out ban. Millions of people in the country have had their social lives taken away from them by nanny Labour. It is time to reform the ban to allow our Clubs and Pubs the Choice of being smoking or non smoking venues. That is the only thing that will save our Clubs. Time for the Discrimination to end.