O U C A XFORD NIVERSITY ONSERVATIVE SSOCIATION
Welcome
I’m thrilled to be able to welcome you to OUCA, the largest student political society in Europe and the principal forum for conservative thought at the University of Oxford. As we begin the first term of our second century, OUCA’s mission is to provide a space for students to meet likeminded people and discuss politics and policy.
With Labour back in power for the first time in 14 years, our speakers this term include a former foreign Head of State, the Chancellor of the University, three former Leaders of the Conservative Party, nine former members of the Cabinet, and two members of the current Shadow Cabinet. At a time when freedom of speech has never been under greater threat, we are open to those of all political views or none, and we look forward to a term of interesting conversations and lively debate.
OUCA strives to be Oxford’s most welcoming political society – and is definitely its most fun. Our events are for everyone, regardless of who you are, what you think, or where you come from, and you don’t need to be a Member to attend. Alongside our speaker events, campaigning, and social action helping the homeless in the community, we also have an exciting lineup of socials for everyone to enjoy.
As always, P&P returns every Sunday evening at 8:30 pm.
See you soon,
Chris Collins President Corpus Christi College
Speakers
Charles Moore
Tuesday of 2nd Week (28th January)
Lord Moore of Etchingham is a prominent and highly distinguished journalist, who was Editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Spectator (which he now Chairs). He wrote a widely acclaimed three-volume biography of Margaret Thatcher, our most esteemed Ex-President. Lord Moore was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020 on the nomination of Boris Johnson, whose career in journalism he helped to launch
Andrew Griffith
Wednesday of 3rd Week (5th February)
Andrew Griffith is Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Prior to his election to Parliament in 2019, Mr Griffith was one of Britain’s most successful businessmen. He was Chief Financial Officer of Sky and Chairman of Just Eat. He entered politics as a key backer of Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign, later serving as Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit and as Financial, and then Economic, Secretary to the Treasury.
Victoria Prentis Monday of 4th Week (10th February)
Victoria Prentis was Member of Parliament for Banbury from 2005 to 2024 and Attorney General for England and Wales from 2022 to 2024. She is a former Chairman of our arch-rivals at the Cambridge University Conservative Association, but we are delighted that she has now seen the light and is speaking to us at OUCA this term. We look forward to hearing about her inspiring career in law and politics
Geoffrey Cox
Date to be confirmed
Sir Geoffrey has served for almost two decades as Member of Parliament for Torridge and Tavistock, and he was one of the leading advocates for Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. Sir Geoffrey is at the very top of the legal profession and knows well the heart of government, serving as Attorney General during the height of the Brexit negotiations under Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
President Guillermo Lasso
Friday of 6th Week (28th February)
Guillermo Lasso served as the 47th President of Ecuador from 2021 to 2023. He was the country’s first conservative President in decades, leading a transformational right-wing shift in Ecuadorian politics. We are honoured to host President Lasso for an address on the evolving nature of global conservatism and the future of Latin America.
William Hague
Tuesday of 7th Week (4th March)
Lord Hague of Richmond (Ex-President, Hilary 1981) is Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Elected Leader of the Conservative Party at the age of just 36, he rebuilt our Party after the crushing defeat of 1997. Re-entering the Cabinet in 2010, Lord Hague helped hold together the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition as Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons, and First Secretary of State.
Theresa Villiers
Date to be confirmed
In almost 20 years as a Member of Parliament, Theresa Villiers served in a wide range of roles, including Environment Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary. Before entering the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet in 2005, she was an MEP for London and Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament.
Dominic Grieve
Date to be confirmed
A leading liberal conservative, Dominic Grieve (Ex-President, Trinity 1977) is perhaps best known as one of the most prominent opponents of British withdrawal from the European Union, using his legal experience to hold the Government to account. He was Shadow Home Secretary from 2008 to 2009, Attorney General from 2010 to 2014, and Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee from 2015 to 2019.
Michael Howard
Date to be confirmed
Lord Howard of Lympne was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2003 to 2005. He served in a number of senior Cabinet roles under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Home Secretary, Employment Secretary, and Environment Secretary. He was a Member of Parliament from 1983 to 2010, and is the last surviving member of Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet who remained loyal to her until the end.
Suella Braverman
Monday of 8th Week (10th March)
An outspoken figure on the Right of the Party, Suella Braverman was Attorney General from 2020 to 2022 and Home Secretary from 2022 to 2023. She rose to prominence as Chair of the influential European Research Group, resigning as a Brexit minister in 2018 in protest at Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft withdrawal agreement. She has been the Member of Parliament for Fareham and Waterlooville since 2015
Chris Philp
Thursday of 8th Week (13th March)
Chris Philp is Shadow Home Secretary and Member for Parliament for Croydon South. A former Editor-in-Chief of Cherwell, who was once fined for taping an Oxford Union event, Mr Philp cofounded a distribution business which was sold for £375 million. He has held numerous ministerial roles, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the Cabinet of Liz Truss.
Iain Duncan Smith
Wednesday of 9th Week (19th March)
Sir Iain was Leader of the Conservative Party from 2001 to 2003. He has been Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green since 1992, having been spectacularly re-elected against the odds at the last general election. The former Work and Pensions Secretary, and longtime Brexiteer and China ‘hawk’, will speak to OUCA at an exclusive drinks reception hosted by our official alumni organisation, the Gadson Club.
Socials
THE BREXIT PARTY: REMAINERS AND LEAVERS
Friday of 1st Week (24th January)
This month, we mark five years since Britain left the European Union. Celebrate, or commiserate, the occasion by dressing up as your favourite Remainer or Leaver at our start of term party!
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Thursday of 2nd Week (30th January)
There is surely no better way to welcome the Year of the Snake than at OUCA’s Lunar New Year social!
CROSS-PARTY CREWDATE WITH OSLA AND OSFL
Saturday of 3rd Week (8th February)
Join our liberal and libertarian friends for a cross-party crewdate at a suitably classy Oxford establishment.
OUCA MINIGOLF
Wednesday of 4th Week (12th February)
Show off your athletic skills with some vigorous Conservative exercise as OUCA goes golfing.
OUCA SPEED-DATING
Friday of 4th Week (14th February)
A lighthearted OUCA classic returns in the form of our highly sought-after speed dating event. Will you find fun and friendship, or like-minded love, this Valentine’s Day?
WINE, CHEESE, AND POKER
Wednesday of 5th Week (19th February)
Another OUCA classic, Wine, Cheese, and Poker offers the finest black-tie evening in Oxford. Gamble the night away, and hope for the economic success of Thatcher rather than Truss.
PUB QUIZ AND EMERGENCY BAR CRAWL
Wednesday of 6th Week (26th February)
Test your political knowledge at our Pub Quiz, and spend the remainder of the evening forgetting the answers you didn’t know.
OUCA KARAOKE
Monday of 7th Week (3rd March)
Join us for a night of musical delight as the candidates for the Presidency battle to impress you with their angelic voices.
POLITICS CHARITY GALA
Wednesday of 7th Week (5th March)
OUCA, OULC, and OSLA will put their differences aside for a good cause, coming together with the PPE and Diplomatic Societies for a charity gala at Hank’s.
TERMLY DINNER
Thursday of 8th Week (13th March)
After all that, we round off the term with our Termly Dinner, featuring a special guest. Here’s to 300 more terms of OUCA!
Cross-Party Debates
Women’s ‘PMQs’: Friday of 2nd Week (31st January)
General ‘PMQs’: Date to be confirmed
Can you do better than Kemi and Keir? Join us in taking the fight to OULC and OULA at two ‘mock PMQs’. The first, organised in collaboration with Oxford Women in Government, will have all-female speakers, while the second is open to everybody.
Port and Policy
“The problem with socialism is that they eventually run out of drinks.” – as Margaret Thatcher, Ex-President, might have said.
Held every Sunday evening from 20:30, Port and Policy is our flagship social and debating event, and it is indisputably the highlight of the Oxford week. Everyone is welcome, even if you don’t drink Port (alternatives are available) and perhaps especially if you don’t agree with our Policy.
2nd Week P&P (26th January) will be sponsored by our friends at the Conservative Environment Network and will be preceded by a talk on conservative environmentalism.
Per tradition, 8th Week P&P (9th March) will be black-tie.
Campaigning and Social Action
OUCA organises regular campaigning trips to support Conservative candidates in Oxfordshire and beyond. This is a great way of meeting people and advancing the Conservative cause, and it always makes for a fun day out! The Association is frequently called upon to provide candidates for local elections in Oxford itself, and, within the University, we are able to make endorsements in SU elections.
Our social action work is also very important to us. Every week, OUCA members do charitable volunteering in the local community, typically preparing and distributing food to the homeless. We believe that helping others and giving back is an essential part of compassionate conservatism.
Conservative Policy Forum
The CPF is the Conservative Party’s consultative body for grassroots members. Held every other week during term, OUCA CPF meetings are a chance to debate politics and policy in a fun and informal setting.
Getting involved
Absolutely everyone is welcome at our events, and you don’t need to be a Member to attend. If you’d like to get involved in a more serious way, you can:
1.
Run for election! Nominations for our elected positions (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Political Officer, Social Secretary, Communications Director, Publications Editor, Whip, and Committee Members) open on Monday of 5th Week and close on Wednesday of 5th Week. Elections are held in 7th Week.
2.
Help run the elections! Please get in touch with the Returning Officer at returningofficer@ouconservatives.co.uk to enquire about Deputy Returning Officer vacancies.
3.
Help keep OUCA a safe and inclusive place by putting yourself forward as Welfare Officer or Women’s Officer. Please get in touch with the Returning Officer to express interest.
Council, our governing body, meets weekly and is a forum for all Members to make comments or raise concerns. If you have any questions at all, or would like more information, please feel free to contact the President at president@ouconservatives.co.uk or drop us a message on social media.
Activist Points
Activist Points are awarded at the discretion of the President to recognise work done to support the Association, including attendance at events, campaigning, social action work, and writing articles for our blog or magazine (Blueprint). Candidates for election are required to achieve the following points totals:
Speakers / Socials: 5 points per event attended, unless otherwise specified in Council.
Campaigning: 5 points per half-day; 10 points for a full day or an away day
Social action: 5 points per voluntary activity approved by the Political Officer
Publications: 5 points for 500+ word articles, 10 points for 1000+ words Articles must be the original and sole work of the candidate If submitted to the Publications Editor no later than Sunday of 5th Week, articles deemed worthy of inclusion in our magazine, Blueprint, shall be awarded an additional 5 point bonus.
Port and Policy: 2 points per event added
Council: 1 point per meeting attended
If a sign-down sheet is available, you must sign your name to receive points.
Officers and Committee
President
Chris Collins
Corpus Christi
Treasurer
Joseph Kay Worcester
President-elect
Edmund Smith
Corpus Christi
Whip
Karl Eichholz Worcester
Secretary Syd Li St Anne’s
Political Officer
George Kenrick Christ Church
Treasurer-elect
Elias Bazard St Catherine’s
Logistics Officer Adam Ballman Magdalen
Publications Editor
William Gough St Hilda’s
Women’s Officer
Patron Honorary President Senior Member
Returning Officer
Charlie Chadwick St Anne’s
Chief of Staff
Victor Marroquín-Merino St Cross
Comms Director
Maya Kapila Christ Church
Parul Sinha Welfare Officer Thomas Crossley
Social Secretary
Ben Ashworth Christ Church
Rt Hon Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
Rt Hon Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ex-President Dr Edward Howell
The Committee Members
Disciplinary Committee
First Lady
First Gentleman
Charles Chadwick, Returning Officer (Chair)
Christopher Collins, President
Edmund Smith, President-elect
Franek Bednarski, Senior Ex-President
Matty Vincent Brown, Ex-President
John Aslet, Senior Ex-Returning Officer
Matthew Benson, Ex-Returning Officer
Daniel Antonio Villar, Ex-Returning Officer
Alexandra Duckworth, Ex-Returning Officer
Lucas Kirk, Senior Deputy Returning Officer
Alexandra Duckworth
Robert McGlone
Chief Mouser Cleo
The President would like to sincerely and warmly thank all those who contributed to the making of this termcard
“I should also like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your friendship and your loyalty during this difficult time. Those of you, that is, who feel those words apply to you. ” – Henry Collingridge
Zahra Saeed Balliol
Harriet Dolby Lady Margaret Hall
Lydia Dicicco St Catherine’s
Charlotte Wild Lady Margaret Hall
Dylan Turner Merton
George Emms Merton
Oliver Green Magdalen
Sunday Monday Tuesday
1st Week Port and Policy
2nd Week Port and Policy Charles Moore
3rd Week Port and Policy
4th Week Port and Policy Victoria Prentis
5th Week Port and Policy
6th Week Port and Policy
7th Week Port and Policy Karaoke William Hague
8th Week Port and Policy Suella Braverman
9th Week
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Joint L&L with OSLA
Start of Term
Drinks: ‘The Brexit Party’
Lunar New Year Social Women’s ‘PMQs’
Andrew Griffith Crewdate Minigolf
OUCA SpeedDating
Wine, Cheese, and Poker
Pub Quiz and Emergency Bar Crawl President Guillermo Lasso
Politics Charity Gala
Iain Duncan Smith
Chris Philp Termly Dinner
“Where there is despair, may we bring hope.”
Margaret Thatcher (Ex-President, Michaelmas 1946)