What is the national convention?
The National Conservative Convention (NCC) is the supreme governing body of the Conservative Party’s voluntary wing in the UK. Often referred to as the party’s internal parliament, it represents the interests of grassroots members, local associations, and volunteers
The NCC is made up of approximately 800 senior party officials, including local Association and Federation Chairs, Constituency Officers, and Area and Regional Officers.
The Convention elects five national officers—a Chairman, President, and three Vice-Presidents — who sit directly on the Conservative Party Board
What the Board Does
Under the Party Constitution, the Board holds overriding decision-making power for operational and organizational matters. Its primary responsibilities include:
Operational Management: Overseeing Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) and internal administrative functions.
Party Resources: Managing fundraising, membership, and internal party elections.
Candidate Selection: Approving rules and processes for selecting parliamentary and local government candidates.
Leadership Rules: Working in consultation with the 1922 Committee to set the rules and timetables for party leadership contests.
Who Makes Up the Board
The Board is designed to represent the three main pillars of the Conservative Party: the political, the professional, and the voluntary. It includes:
The Party Chairman (who chairs the Board)
Representatives from Parliament (MPs and Lords)
Professional party executives and treasurers.
Representatives of the voluntary wing - the National Convention Officers
The Board meets monthly and works closely with various sub-committees (such as the Finance, Audit, and Candidate Committees) to ensure the smooth running of the Party