106 Responses to “Beaconsfield”

1. Joseph Brayson

   I would have thought that the issue of HS2 would lead to a further decrease in membership figures for this constituency and others affected by this.

   February 7th, 2012 at 9:36 am
2. H.Hemmelig

   “It is an interesting subject and chart.
   Looking at the Beaconsfield chart, the really big drop happened between mid 1992 and around 1995.”

   But that is ancient history, and easily explained by the political catastrophes of the Major government.

   The most worrying development for the Tories is the declines in membership in 2008 and 2009 – years when they had leads of up to 20% in the polls, and the Labour government was reeling from the worst economic crisis since the depression. If the Tories couldn’t even keep their membership up in those years, what’s it going to look like after 5 difficult years in government?

   February 7th, 2012 at 11:17 am
3. Andy JS

   One of the main problems is that anyone under the age of 50 who turns up at a Tory party gathering of any kind is liable to feel out of place on account of the advanced age of existing party members. A simple point, but true all the same.

   February 7th, 2012 at 11:17 am
4. GT

   The parties no longer seek members. They now seem to prefer wealthy donors, which is bad for democracy.
   Generally parties rebuild their membership in opposition. Strong membership helps with fund raising and organisation.
   Equally there are very few opportunities to hear polictical speakers any more. My son is studying politics A-level – but none of the safe Conservative seats near us advertise speaker events, so there is no chance for him to hear MP’s live. The other parties don’t exist at all.
   Strong parties support local activity and provide a gene pool for local councillors.

   February 7th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
5. swanarcadian

   I am a Conservative voter, but no longer a member. When I last joined I was told I was going to get a visit from some local party members. This put me off because I wanted to keep my political allegiance quiet from other members of my household and neighbours. I wonder if more people would join if people could hold membership under their own terms, ie. just paying the membership fee only, not receiving letters etc.
   In fact I never did get the visit, maybe because there was a slight error in my address.

   February 7th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
6. Shaun Bennett

   “I wonder if more people would join if people could hold membership under their own terms”

   If you join the party nationally, Swanarcadian, I believe you CAN specify no communication from your local association (or at least you could in the past).

   When I was membership officer for the Stoke Association, we had a number of members who we didn’t know who were down as no communication.

   You will still get begging letters from CCHQ from time to time however.

   February 7th, 2012 at 10:32 pm

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