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Drive boosted by army of young volunteers who feel it is cool to be Conservative again
AN army of young volunteers will play a vital role in the Tory drive to win Yorkshire's key seats as growing numbers of under 30s decide it is cool to be Conservative again.
Conservatives' war chest: Special report
The success of David Cameron's bid to decontaminate the Conservative brand has resulted in a revival of Conservative Future, the successor to the Young Conservatives which once attracted a membership of up to 250,000.
After years in the doldrums, membership has been picking up
with "substantial" growth in Yorkshire in the past year. Members played a major role in the party's recent success in Norwich North and their enthusiasm is already giving the party a lift in marginal seats where they are pounding the streets.
In Yorkshire, a recruitment drive is planned with Conservative Future stalls at every university fresher's fair in the autumn and a campaign to attract young professionals to the group, which is open to under 30s.
The social aspect of the organisation is seen as a major selling point. Many middle class couples met through Young Conservative dances and charity events in the middle of the last century.
Philip Smith, 21, regional chairman of Conservative Future, said: "The changes David Cameron has made have made the party much more approachable. We were seen for a long time as the nasty party, rightly or wrongly.
"He's gone around rejuvenating the party and ensuring that there is a place for everyone, no matter what your background, in the Conservative arty.
"The key thing we're focusing on is getting more young professionals into the party in the autumn. A few years ago that would not have been possible, but because the structures are in place and I have a team which is really keen and dedicated to fight the Conservative cause across Yorkshire we're able to look at doing these things."
Having grown up in Leeds with a family more supportive of Labour or the Liberal Democrats than the Tories, Philip turned to David Cameron because of the Government's failure to stamp out anti-social behaviour.
Embarrassed by stories of drunken antics and extreme views, the Young Conservatives was overhauled by William Hague in 1998. Now CF branches are springing up across the region and membership has "massively increased".
All Parties struggling for members
Drumming up new members – or keeping hold of existing ones – is proving difficult for all the parties.
The Tories may be on top in the polls - but even some of its must-win constituencies are finding it hard to persuade people to sign up to the party, according to official accounts.
In Colne Valley – where the party only needs a 1.5 per cent swing to win – the party's full membership fell from 279 in 2006 to 202 in 2007, and in Selby & Ainsty membership has fallen from a high of 523 in 2005, down to 359 in 2007.
In Calder Valley, membership has been largely stable, while in Pudsey, another key seat, numbers were up from 192 to 209 last year. There was also a slight increase in Keighley and Ilkley
Tory sources question the accuracy of some of the figures which show a fall, and claim they do not always match the experience of local activists.
The Tories also have a scheme where people can donate or become friends, without becoming full members. Numbers in the Conservative Future ranks of under-30s are also said to be booming.
For Labour, national figures published last week showed a fall in membership across the country. A spokesman in Yorkshire said: "In terms of membership all political parties across the western world are seeing a downward trend in membership. I don't think there's anything to suggest our trend is any different."
He claimed in West Yorkshire seats in particular "an awful lot" of volunteers have come forward who have not joined the party but are helping.
Lib Dems in Harrogate and Knaresborough have seen a rise in membership from 453 in 2007 to 472 in 2008 but in other areas they too are down.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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