Nottingham University Conservative Association

NUCA is run by its officers and committee, who are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). NUCA's General Secretary is responsible for running the elections. The responsibilities of each role are set out in the NUCA Constitution. Current committee positions are President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Campaigns and Welfare Officer.

NUCA events and activities vary considerably, depending on the president and committee, but all activities follow four main strands; Port and Policy; speaker meetings; campaigning; and social events.

NUCA's most popular regular event is Port & Policy, in which a political parliamentary-style debate (chaired by the President) is accompanied by a few glasses of fine port. A typical Port & Policy debate will consist of three predetermined motions selected by the committee, each of which are debated for around 45 minutes with three short intervals. Port & Policy is normally held in The Great Hall, an impressive and historically significant part of Trent Building. Dress code is usually black tie, with occasional reversion to formal wear when alternate venues are used. Port & Policy's attendance has risen sharply in recent years, with over 80 attendees in the final Port & Policy of the 2015/16 academic year and over 90 for the 2017/2018 academic year.

NUCA regularly hosts well known speakers including Cabinet Members and Members of Parliament such as Ken Clarke{{cite web |url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/questions-local-politicians/story-19980467-detail/story.html |title=Put questions to local politicians {{!}} Nottingham Post |website=www.nottinghampost.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025222108/http://www.nottinghampost.com/questions-local-politicians/story-19980467-detail/story.html |archive-date=25 October 2013}} and Anna Soubry. NUCA also invites a number of speakers from Conservative think-tanks and campaign groups. Controversy occurred in 2022 when GB News presenter Calvin Robinson was invited by NUCA to speak. Plans to protest and occupy the Great Hall, where Robinson was due to speak, by the University of Nottingham Left Society were uncovered which led to criticism from Robinson on his Twitter accompanied by screenshots of the alleged plot.{{Cite tweet|title=Register|url-access=limited|user=calvinrobinson|number=1595381336738496518 |url=https://twitter.com/calvinrobinson/status/1595381336738496518 |access-date=27 December 2022}} To avoid protests, the event was moved by NUCA to an unpublicised location.{{Cite tweet|title=Register|url-access=limited|user=nottsunicons|number=1595391767720955906 |url=https://twitter.com/nottsunicons/status/1595391767720955906 |access-date=27 December 2022}}

NUCA often campaigns in local and general elections in the constituency of Nottingham South.{{Cite web | url=http://thingselliottsays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/massive-campaign-day-in-clifton-north.html | title=#ThingsElliottSays: Massive Campaign Day in Clifton North| date=4 March 2014}}

In response to the election of the controversial figure Malia Bouattia as President of the NUS, NUCA was heavily involved in the 2016 'No To NUS' campaign, which sought to disaffiliate The University of Nottingham from the NUS following evidence of institutional anti-semitism,{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-37489745 |title=NUS chief 'anti-Semitic rhetoric' claim| work=BBC News |date=28 September 2016| last1=Jones| first1=Luke}} racism{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/nus-ban-anti-racism-representatives-student-vote-jewish-society-malia-bouattia-a7146176.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/student/nus-ban-anti-racism-representatives-student-vote-jewish-society-malia-bouattia-a7146176.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title = NUS bans students from picking anti-racism representatives|website = Independent.co.uk|date = 20 July 2016}} and homophobia{{Cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/03/25/stonewall-criticises-nus-for-resolution-to-do-away-with-gay-mens-reps/ |title = Stonewall criticises NUS for resolution to do away with gay men's reps|date = 25 March 2016}} within the NUS.

Social Events often include bar and pub crawls such as the annual Fox Hunt and Oktober Revolution. Traditionally, NUCA members are invited to join together for formal dinners every year, notably for the Christmas Annual Dinner and the Vice-President's Annual Dinner (it is customary for the Vice-President to invite a special guest to the latter). Other social events have included Wine & Cheese Evenings, informal dinners and drinks receptions.

• John Hayes,{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Hayes_John.aspx |title=John Hayes MP |website=www.conservatives.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517224159/http://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Hayes_John.aspx |archive-date=17 May 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thersa.org/events/speakers-archive/h/john-hayes-mp?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print%20friendly |title=RSA - Hayes MP, John |website=www.thersa.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002194244/http://www.thersa.org/events/speakers-archive/h/john-hayes-mp?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print%20friendly |archive-date=2013-10-02}} former Minister of State for Transport
• Andrew Bridgen{{Cite web | url=http://www.andrewbridgen.com/about |title = About Andrew Bridgen | Andrew Bridgen MP - Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire}}
• Andrew Griffith,{{Cite web |title=About Andrew |url=https://www.andrewgriffithmp.com/about-andrew |access-date=27 December 2022 |website=Andrew Griffith}} Economic Secretary to the Treasury
• Scott Benton{{Cite web |title=Team 1 |url=https://www.northernpolicy.org/scott-benton-mp |access-date=27 December 2022 |website=Northern Policy Foundation}}
• Gareth Davies{{Cite web |title=Gareth Davies - House of Commons {{!}} FundForum UK Speaker |url=https://informaconnect.com/fundforum-uk/speakers/gareth-davies/ |access-date=27 December 2022 |website=informaconnect.com}}
• Katherine Fletcher{{Cite web |title=About Katherine Fletcher |url=https://www.katherinefletcher.uk/about-katherine-fletcher |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=Katherine Fletcher MP}}

• Neil Carmichael,{{Cite web | url=http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/about |title = Unleash Britain's Potential | Conservatives}} former chair of the Education Select Committee
• Charlie Elphicke,{{Cite web |url=http://www.alumni.nottingham.ac.uk/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1744 |title=University of Nottingham |access-date=17 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503004025/http://www.alumni.nottingham.ac.uk/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1744 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=dead }} former Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
• Tim Janman
• Stephen Mosley{{cite web |url=http://www.chestermp.com/about-stephen/ |title=About Stephen — Stephen Mosley MP |website=www.chestermp.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109093438/http://www.chestermp.com/about-stephen/ |archive-date=9 November 2010}}

Others

• Sir Nigel Sherlock
• David Ross

Over its history, NUCA has published several magazines under different titles. These include Climax: The Blue Magazine (1980–83), Blueprint (1979, 84–90) and Inside Right. There were at least 38 copies of Climax produced, some of which may be found in the Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections.

In 2022, NUCA launched The Blue Press, a pro-free speech magazine aimed at fighting back against the perceived left-wing cancel culture that exists on campus. Its first edition was published on 18 October 2022{{Cite tweet|title=Register|url-access=limited|user=nottsunicons|number=1582377266444521472 |url=https://twitter.com/nottsunicons/status/1582377266444521472 |access-date=27 December 2022}} and included contributions from current and former members of NUCA as well as an interview with the current Chair of Nottingham labour students.{{Cite news |date=September 2022 |title=The Blue Press}} The second issue some out in Spring of 2023.

{{Reflist}}

{{University of Nottingham}}

{{UK Conservative Party}}

{{University Conservative Associations in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Conservative Future

Category:Politics of Nottingham

Category:University of Nottingham

Category:Student wings of political parties in the United Kingdom