CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY ANNUAL FRESHERS NEWSLETTER
Issue #1 September 2018
Warm Welcome to our Inaugural Newsletter “A University
should be a It is our great pleasure to welcome you to our inaugural newsletter, giving an insight into what we have done over the past year, what we stand for, place of light, of and the exciting projects we have lined up for the year ahead.
Being a Conservative at University has never been a simple task, but it is liberty and of great testament to Presidents both old and new that we have gone from having no society just a couple of years ago, to being one of the fastest learning” growing. Last year we found ourselves just a couple members short of being the largest political party society on campus. It is thanks to our - Benjamin Disraeli, British members that we can do the many things we do, so hopefully you’ll join us PM and father of the modern in making this next year fantastic. Conservative Party As you read through, you will find out what we have been up to in the past academic year and what we hope to achieve this year. We hope you enjoy your browse, and our committee wish you all the best in the years ahead as you begin, or continue, your journey at this fantastic University.
In This Issue
Welcome from our President and our MP
The Past Year in Pictures
Our Plans for the Year Ahead
Meet the Committee
How to Contact Us
Society meeting with Member of Parliament for Stirling and former alumni, Stephen Kerr 2017/18 Year Update
Party Conference, Manchester Last October our society, in a joint effort with Conservatives from the University of Dundee, traveled to party conference in Manchester.
The four days away gave members plenty of opportunities for networking, meeting prominent Conservative politicians, and Stirling and Dundee Tories in Manchester sampling the free alcohol on offer at many of the fringe receptions, Gladstone Place Events A major benefit of being a society member is access to events at Gladstone Place, the local Conservative association in Stirling. Over the past year there have been multiple pizza and politics evenings, when we grab some pizza and just chat topical political issues!
Thanks to Stirling now having a Tory MP - and a former Stirling Uni student - Stephen Kerr is able to persuade many prominent MPs, including cabinet ministers, to come and visit the constituency and talk to local members. The past year has allowed us to hear from Michael Gove, Environment Secretary; Gavin Williamson, Defence Secretary; John Glen, treasury minister; and Andrew Jones; Vice Chairman of the Party (Business). We have no doubt that we’ll get to hear from many more in the next year!
Ken Clarke at Scottish Parliament We had the pleasure of taking a trip to Edinburgh to listen and participate in a Q&A session with Kenneth Clarke, an MP since 1970 and former Chancellor and Home Secretary. A few of us picked up a signed copy of his memoirs whilst we were there!
Burns Supper The annual Burns Supper with the Stirling and Clackmannanshire association was one of the year highlights. With student tickets generously purchased for us by Dean Lockhart MSP, students had a great opportunity to mingle with local members and hear the singing star himself, Alexander Stewart MSP! 2017/18 Year Update
Presidential Stephen Kerr MP Welcome "Back in 1982 I started at Stirling University taking a degree in business studies. Those were great times at the University and I am sure you will have a fantastic time here.
Getting involved in Student Politics is great fun and a superb way to make a positive impact on your community. You can get involved debating the great issues of the day as well as campaigning and learning about how politics can make a real difference in people's lives.
I am a Conservative because I believe in freedom, a smaller state, lower taxes and a Government that helps people to "The Stirling University help themselves. and Conservative Society has had a busy, but suc- This is fundamentally what unites cessful, year over the last Conservatives, especially against a 12 months. Labour Party that is hell bent on Highlights include a visit nationalising large parts of our from the Defence Secre- economy and implementing a Marxist agenda. tary and the Environment Secretary, as well as the Also core to my Conservatism is a fundamental belief in the Union and regular meetings within fighting against nationalism in all it's forms. We have some great events the society and the wider Stirling and Clackman- that I hope you will get involved in locally and make your contribution to nanshire associations. the future of our Country. "
This newsletter will show- case the range of activi- ties that we have been involved in over that time. The Year Ahead This year, however, will be no less successful! I take great pleasure in We have so much planned for the year ahead! This includes: knowing that we have a fantastic range of events in store from a lecture New members reception in October with Stephen Kerr MP series by Members of Parliament, trips to Holy- Brexit lecture series from prominent MPs rood and Westminster, and more events with our Visits and talks from Conservatives across Scotland local associations.
If you like what you see, Trip to Westminster and are interested in join- ing the Society, don’t hes- Social events - everything from beer to bowling! itate to come along to our Monday meetings to find
The Committee Contact Us There are numerous ways that you can get in touch with us!
To do it in person, come Vice President along to our society Neil Pickles meetings on Monday evenings!
President Craig Docherty If you wish to email us:
You can also keep in Secretary Stuart McLuckie contact with us and be updated on all the latest news on our social
Treasurer media accounts! Michael Craig Facebook.com/ StirlingTory
@stirlingunicon Communications Alasdhair McBride