Olivia Lever is the Director of Blue Beyond, a think tank for young conservatives
It’s been 7 years since I first got involved with Young Conservatives. As a fresher at the University of Liverpool, I founded and ran the Young Conservative Society. Following that I joined Blue Beyond, an organisation that seeks to ensure the voices of Young Conservatives who struggle to access Westminster are heard.
Over the years things have gone from bad to worse. To say the current state of the Conservative Party is an embarrassing disgrace would be an understatement. I’m far from the only Young Conservative of this opinion.
To renew the Conservative Party, we need a leader who is brash, bold, and willing to listen and act. That’s why I’m backing Kemi Badenoch. This is my own independent opinion. Blue Beyond does not endorse any leadership candidates. However, in my view, Badenoch is the best candidate who understands the issues that face Young Conservatives.
Blue Beyond polled members during the general election, and just under 85 per cent said they felt that Conservative Party policy did not have young people in mind. One of the biggest gripes I have heard from Young Conservatives over the years is that they feel ignored, treated only as leaflet fodder, and looked down upon by other members.
However, Badenoch is eager to change that. Badenoch values the next generation of Conservative voters, activists, and candidates; that is why she wants to hear directly from you about the issues that Young Conservatives care about.
Renewal 2030 is about more than just winning the next election. It is about where the Conservative Party goes beyond the next decade. Badenoch is dedicated to providing an offer in the future for the children of today, and growing and building on the inheritance that we have been given
She acknowledges that the Party is more than its leader and that we need to appeal to all ages of voters. The climb to the summit of electoral success will not be easy, but she is the strongest candidate to lead us there.
There are three reasons why Young Conservatives have become disenfranchised over the last few years. Many Young Conservative members often complain that they feel overlooked by older association members. Young Conservatives have been blocked from taking on responsibilities within some Associations, and sometimes even prevented from standing as election candidates.
The majority of more mature members are decent people, who are delighted by young people joining our Party; but we must ensure that every young person who wants to get involved can be valued. Badenoch recognises the serious issues within our Party machine and is bold and determined enough to take radical steps to fix them.
In the last five years, Young Conservatives have had four different YC Vice Chairs within the Party. Under Rishi Sunak, the position was moved around and, with different people being told different things, it became difficult for Young Conservatives to identify who was their parliamentary champion.
According to Ipsos, 10 per cent of 54-34 year olds voted Conservative, and only 5 per cent of 18-24 year olds. It is no secret that Conservative Party policy hasn’t appealed to Young Conservatives let alone those who aren’t political.
One Blue Beyond poll revealed that 70 per cent of Young Conservatives want housing to be a top priority. Kemi understands that the housing market is a top issue for Young Conservatives. The average age of people who buy their first home is now 36 according to PA Media. With former Housing Ministers Rachel Maclean and Lee Rowley supporting Kemi, pragmatic housing policy will inevitably be championed.
At the heart of the Renewal 2030 campaign is the concept of telling the truth. It is not enough to talk about making housing a priority or championing it, Young Conservatives want more than lip service. We have done that in the past, but we have failed to make progress because we were unwilling to tell the truth to people or be clear about who we are for.
Badenoch does not shy away from tackling the big issues, nor does she tiptoe around. Straight-talking pragmatism, with the ability to say no is the only way the Conservative Party will renew itself. Badenoch is level-headed and nuanced, rather than resorting to cheap soundbites. She will stand up for you, the same way she has stood up for others in the past.
I would strongly encourage all Young Conservatives to answer the survey. Tell your stories, share your frustrations, and give insight into the good and bad practice. Provide the details, and let the disease be examined under the microscope for treatment.
Badenoch wants to take action and renew the grassroots to ensure that Young Conservatives are a core part of the machine that leads us to victory. Renewal 2030 is about you as Young Conservatives, and you get one step closer to fixing the issues by answering Badenoch’s survey. Change, listening and hard work is the only way to fix this mess and make the Conservative Party ours.
