Glasgow University Conservative Association
Encyclopedia
About
Glasgow University Conservative Association (shortened to GUCA) was founded in 1836 at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, and is the oldest University Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
association in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was formed as a branch of the Federation of Conservative Students
Federation of Conservative Students
The Federation of Conservative Students was the student organisation of the British Conservative Party from the late 1940s to 1986. It was created to act as a bridge between the student movement and the Conservative Party....
and of the Young Conservatives, and remains affiliated to the Scottish Conservative Party. Its main aim was to promote Conservative principles in the University with special emphasis on student and University politics.
A particular aim of the Club, as stated in the 1972 Constitution, was to preserve the dignity of the Rectorial Chair of the University by promoting prominent Conservatives to occupy the position. This has resulted in many famous Conservative candidates, the most notable of whom was Benjamin Disraeli, who was elected to the three-year term in 1871 and 1874.
Today, the Association operates as a forum for students to discuss Conservative politics and participate in events and campaigning in Glasgow and further afield around Scotland. The Association is affiliated with the national Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
through Conservative Future Scotland
Conservative Future Scotland
Conservative Future Scotland is the youth wing of the Scottish Conservative Party.The organisation formed in early 2005 by the merger of the Scottish Young Conservatives and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Students group, a process which had happened with its sister organisation in the...
which brings together associations of young conservatives throughout Scotland, mainly through university groups.
The Association is operated by the Executive, which comprises the President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer elected on an annual basis at the association's Annual General Meeting in May.
It also has three honorary positions. The Current Honorary President is Ruth Davidson
Ruth Davidson
Ruth Davidson is a politician, former BBC journalist and the current leader of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party...
with Struan Stevenson
Struan Stevenson
Struan Stevenson is a Scottish politician. He is a Member of the European Parliament for Scotland and Vice Chair of the Committee on Fisheries, in addition to which, he is member of the Executive of the Scottish Conservative party.-Political career:Stevenson served his early political career as...
and James MacLeod serving as Honorary Vice Presidents.
Events
The Association executive organises a range of events throughout the academic year. This includes the Annual St Andrew's Dinner held every year in November, political discussions and other social events.The Association also regularly campaigns for the Conservative Party for elections at all levels across the country.
Recent Presidents
Main article: Past Presidents of Glasgow University Conservative AssociationPast Presidents of Glasgow University Conservative Association
The Glasgow University Conservative Association was originally called the 'Peel Club' after Sir Robert Peel was elected Rector of Glasgow University in 1836, but by 1898 is referred to in documents as the 'Glasgow University Conservative Club', before being re-formed as the Conservative Association...
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Stacey Leishman |
| 2010-11 | Ross McFarlane |
| 2009-10 | Colin Taylor |
| 2008-09 | Robert Johnson |
| 2008-09 | Aidan Cook |
| 2007-08 | Chris Leishman |
| 2006-07 | David Harris |
| 2005-06 | Richard Anderson |
| 2004-05 | David Adams |
| 2003-04 | Gordon Fraser |
| 2002-03 | Gordon Fraser |
Alumni Project
In 2011, the Association embarked upon a project to identify all the previous presidents and other office bearers of the Association. The project is expected to take at least a year to complete.GUCA in the Media
Members of the Association were featured in a documentary that charted the campaign in East Renfrewshire in the run-up to the 2010 general election.The Association's annual St Andrew's dinner in November 2010 attracted media attention as people opposing government policies on higher education protested outside with Police being called and three protestors being arrested.
Members of the Association have also appeared in national press and have given interviews for TV news as well.
See also
- Conservative Future ScotlandConservative Future ScotlandConservative Future Scotland is the youth wing of the Scottish Conservative Party.The organisation formed in early 2005 by the merger of the Scottish Young Conservatives and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Students group, a process which had happened with its sister organisation in the...
- Oxford University Conservative AssociationOxford University Conservative AssociationThe Oxford University Conservative Association, or OUCA is a student political organisation founded in 1924 whose members are drawn from the University of Oxford...
- Cambridge University Conservative AssociationCambridge University Conservative AssociationThe Cambridge University Conservative Association is a long-established political society going back to 1921, with roots in the late nineteenth century, as a Conservative branch for students at Cambridge University in England...