College, subject, and year?

I’m a third year History PhD student at Peterhouse, writing about British economic policy 1957-1970.

2024 was a rough year for the Tory party. After a bruising defeat in the general election, what’s the mood amongst Conservative supporters? 

My personal mood, one that I think was shared by many in the Association, was a strange sense of relief. I’ve been rather enjoying being in opposition. Not only is it easier, there’s also the excitement of trying to create something beautiful and new, rather than trying to keep up ramshackle, and fundamentally flawed, old building.

Do you think that the party MPs and members made the right choice in electing Kemi Badenoch as leader? (And do you agree with her that sandwiches are for wimps?)

Two previous 'Port and Policy' motions showed almost unanimous support among our members for Jenrick over Badenoch. That said, I have some sympathy with Badenoch’s comments on sandwiches. Although there are many excellent sandwiches available, supermarket sandwiches are depressing and would not be tolerated in most other countries.

“I think that the phrase ‘fourteen wasted years’ sums up the Conservative Party’s time in Government well”

The Conservative Party’s voter base is increasingly made up of older people. How do you think the party can broaden its appeal and show that it has something to offer young people?

By pandering so aggressively to the grey vote, they have stored up big problems for the future. The critical thing is to find some way to marry the political interests of older and younger people. One example of a winning policy in this regard would be aiming to increase the affordability of housing for first-time buyers. More ambitiously, I think that the Conservatives should also look at student loans, and indeed the system of financing higher education more generally (which is a disaster).

Even amongst Tories, a lot of people are giving the party’s 14 years in government a pretty damning assessment. Do you agree with that, or would you defend any of the Conservative’s record?

I think that the phrase ‘fourteen wasted years’ sums up the Conservative Party’s time in Government well. There were a few achievements, but almost all were under Cameron (someone who, I should add, I don’t even particularly like).

How do you respond to those who think that CUCA has a responsibility not to platform people whose views or rhetoric are offensive?

It is important to acknowledge that politics is a not a parlour game; it is a serious matter that affects real people’s lives. I regret to say that some of the constant whingeing about ‘cancel culture’ on the right reflects a failure to understand this basic fact. I would also say that CUCA don’t invite speakers because they are ‘controversial’ or ‘offensive’. We invite them because we think they have something interesting to say. They might, to some people, also be ‘controversial’ or ‘offensive’, but we’re not inviting people just to get attention.

Best accompaniment to port? Cheese, dark chocolate, or something else entirely?

Perhaps a heretical opinion, but I don’t like port much, either ruby or tawny. Certainly, it isn’t very pleasant in large quantities, as at 'Port and Policy'. If it were up to me, I’d serve a different drink. But alas, that would be rather too radical a decision for me, as a mere Chairman of a Conservative Association and someone who is transient (not permanent), to make.

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