The Conservative Women's Organisation (CWO) represents the female members of the Conservative Party in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Conservative Women's Organisation Scotland operates in Scotland. The Chair of CWO Scotland sits on the CWO National Executive.

The youth wing of Conservative Women's Organisation is called Conservative Young Women.

As with all political parties, membership has declined and the CWO had about 5,000 active members in 2012 (although not all women party members are actually CWO members, they must join separately). Attendance at the CWO Annual Conference has been between 300 and 750 in the past five years.

It also sends delegates to the National Conservative Convention, the parliament of the party's voluntary wing (Voluntary Party).

History

The National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations' Central Women's Advisory Committee (CWAC) was formed in 1908 and officially founded in 1919, although not affiliated to the Conservative Party until 1928. Its roots go back to the Grand Ladies Council of the Primrose League of 1885. It changed its name to the Women's National Advisory Committee (WNAC) in 1951 and again to the Conservative Women's National Committee (CWNC) in April 1982. It changed to its current title in April 2007.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the CWO had more than a quarter of a million members and became the largest women's political organisation in the Western world. For several decades, the women's organisation's annual conference was regularly held in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The CWO celebrated its centenary in 2019 at its conference at Methodist Hall in London on 9 March 2019. The organisation created a supplementary centenary logo, which includes a primrose, in reference to its roots in the Primrose League – and uses the suffragette colours of purple, white and green.

Purpose According to its website, the CWO is: The grassroots network that provides support and focus for women in the Conservative Party Reaching out to women in all parts of the community Campaigning on issues of particular concern to women both nationally and internationally Encouraging women to be politically active and to get elected at all levels Ensuring that the women's perspective is taken into account because women see things differently from men Helping the Conservative Party capture the women's vote

Organisation

National Executive

The CWO Executive Committee has responsibility for the overall management of the organisation and is composed of: CWO officers (president, chairman, 3 deputy chairmen, treasurer and deputy chairman Europe) European Union of Women (EUW) British Section Officers The 12 regional chairmen plus 2 additional executive members (AEMs) per region Up to 8 co-options Up to 8 additional members

National officers The national officers for 2022/3 are:

Position Name Since National President Eve Burt 2022 National Chairman Pamela Hall 2022 National Deputy Chairman Susan Coleman 2023 National Deputy Chairman Neeti Gupta 2022 National Deputy Chairman Louise Brice 2024 National Treasurer Janet Parrott 2022

Regions East Midlands Eastern London North East North West Northern Ireland Scotland (as Scottish Conservative Women) South West Southern Wales West Midlands Yorkshire Each of the 12 regions are broken into Areas (roughly by county), with each having their own Area Chairman with responsibility to the Regional Chairmen. An affiliated (or recognised) Conservative Association women's group, known as Association CWOs or Conservative Women's Constituency Committees (CWCCs).

Affiliation and constitution The organisation is officially affiliated to the Conservative Party. Its last constitution was ratified by the CWO AGM in March 2007 and ratified by the Party Board on 7 April 2007. A revised constitution was ratified by the CWO AGM on 29 March 2014 and ratified by the Party Board on 28 April 2014.

Elections National and Regional elections take place at Annual General Meetings before 30 April each year.

Policy and research

CWO Forums Although the organisation primarily represents the views of the women grassroots members of the Conservative Party, it is also involved in policy and research, which particularly affect women in the UK. It does this primarily through its CWO Forums – panel based discussion meetings that are generally held in the Palace of Westminster and which are open to men and women, and to people from all political persuasions.

Subjects covered in the last five years include: Human Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Policing 'Big Brother' Syndrome Animal Welfare Drugs Immigration/Asylum Environment Criminal Justice System Food Labelling Housing/Planning Mental Health Pensions Europe Forced Marriages Prostitution Gang Culture Iraq & Afghanistan Cyber Bullying Local Government Taxation Stalking Rural Poverty

CWO Development Set up by the then chairman, Pauline Lucas, in 2010, the development programme mentors and develops women to stand for public office at all levels. Workshops are usually held at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London but sponsored Be a Councillor days are held around the UK. Workshops cover communication, interviews, applications, campaigns and finance, together with other "transferable skills". In July 2013, the CWO announced a new workshop as an introduction for women to apply for Public Appointments and Non-Executive Director roles.

Conferences The first recorded Conservative Women's Conference was in 1921 and holding an annual conference is part of its constitution. For several decades, the women's organisation's annual conference was regularly held in the Royal Albert Hall.

National CWO Chairmen

Years Chair 1919-1921 Lady Fitzalan [Lady Edmund Talbot, formerly Lady Mary Bertie] 1921-1925 Mrs W. Bridgeman [Caroline Bridgeman, The Viscountess Bridgeman DBE] 1925-1928 Viscountess Elveden 1928-1932 Countess of Iveagh 1933-1935 Dame Regina Evans 1935-1938 Lady Hillingdon 1938-1942 Mrs Marian Whitehead 1942-1945 Mrs Hornyold-Strickland 1945-1948 Dame Lucile Sayers [Elsewhere listed as Mrs Lorne Sayers] 1948-1951 Mrs Anne Warde 1951-1954 Evelyn Emmet, Baroness Emmet of Amberley [Otherwise described as Mrs TA Emmet] 1954-1957 Katharine Elliot, The Baroness Elliot of Harwood DBE [otherwise described as Mrs Walter Elliot] 1957-1960 Lady Mary Graham 1960-1963 Dame Margaret Shepherd [Otherwise described as Peggy Shepherd] 1963-1966 Mrs CJA Doughty [later, Dame Adelaide Doughty] 1966-1969 Dame Unity Lister 1969-1972 Dame Margot Smith [Otherwise described as Mrs Roy Smith] 1972-1975 Dame Shelagh Roberts 1975-1978 Dame Ann Springman [listed as Margaret Springham in the Times] 1978-1981 Dame Pamela Hunter [Otherwise described as Mrs Gordon Hunter] 1981-1984 Joan Seccombe, The Baroness Seccombe DBE 1984-1987 Dame Margaret Fry 1987-1990 Dame Wendy Mitchell 1990-1993 Mrs Hazel Byford, The Baroness Byford DBE 1993-1996 Dame Joyce Annelay, The Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE 1996-1999 Mrs Caroline Abel-Smith OBE 1999-2002 Mrs Marney Swan OBE 2002-2005 Mrs Pamela Parker 2005-2008 Lady Fiona Hodgson, The Baroness Hodgson of Abinger CBE 2008-2011 Mrs Pauline Lucas MBE 2011-2012 Ms Niki Molnar MBE Mar-Nov 2012 Mrs Katy Bourne 2013-2016 Ms Niki Molnar MBE 2016-2019 Mrs Julie Iles OBE 2019-2022 Mrs Fleur Butler 2022- Ms Pamela Hall OBE

References

External links Conservative Women's Organisation – Official Website ConservativeHome: New Officer Team Elected to run the CWO Blue Blog: Caroline Spelman – The CWO Annual Conference 2008 Blue Blog: Theresa May – Speech to the CWO Annual Conference 2008