Oxford University Conservative Association

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Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) is the student Conservative club at the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1924 and, since October 2009, has been affiliated with Conservative Future and its successor, the Young Conservatives, the Conservative Party’s youth wing.

Notable alumni
OUCA counts many prominent Conservatives among its former members. Among them are former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Edward Heath; David Cameron and Theresa May; William Hague and Jeremy Hunt; Sir George Young and Ann Widdecombe; Jacob Rees-Mogg and the Earl of Dartmouth. Journalists Jonathan Aitken, William Rees-Mogg, Daniel Hannan and Nick Robinson are also linked to OUCA. Since the 1950s, at least one OUCA president has been in the Conservative cabinet in every era. Some Labour figures, like Ed Balls and Chris Bryant, are also listed as OUCA alumni in various sources.

Governance and everyday running
OUCA is led by six senior officers: president, president-elect, treasurer, treasurer-elect, secretary, and political officer (who runs Port and Policy each week and organises campaigning and social action). Four junior officers and eight committee members help run the group, with some appointments made by the president. The returning officer runs elections and oversees internal disciplinary procedures. The president can appoint additional non-executive officers if needed.

Port and Policy and other activities
OUCA runs a regular event called Port and Policy, a port-fuelled debate with serious and light motions. Two motions are usually debated, plus an emergency motion. The event has been held in various Oxford venues over the years and has drawn attention for its lively debate. Port and Policy was featured in the Channel 4 documentary Make Me a Tory (2007). The event has been cited as evidence of growing Conservative interest among students.

Relationship with the Conservative Party and student elections
OUCA members sometimes stand for Oxford City Council. Oxford City Council has historically been Labour-dominated, and Conservatives have not held a seat there since 2001. OUCA members such as Alexander Stafford (2008), Poppy Stokes, Maryam Ahmed (2014), and George Walker (2016) have stood in council elections in wards like Holywell and Carfax. The pattern shows OUCA students engaging in local politics, even when party success in Oxford is challenging.

Oxford University Tory Reform Group (OUTRG)
In 1965, OUCA members formed OUTRG as a rival “one-nation conservative” group. It merged back into OUCA in 2007 due to falling membership and a shift in the political climate. The merger was seen as a way to keep debate lively and representative of different viewpoints within the Oxford Conservative scene.

Media presence and controversies
OUCA has featured in media and documentaries, notably the Channel 4 program Make Me a Tory (2007). The association has faced several controversies over the years:
- No Platform Referendum (1986): OUCA led a campaign against a No Platform policy for racists and fascists; the policy was rejected in a student referendum.
- Racism accusations: In 2000, some members were expelled for Nazi salutes; in 2001 a student described OUCA as “the biggest political group… since the Hitler Youth”; other incidents in later years also attracted coverage. The university and student bodies have investigated or responded to racist remarks and hustings.
- 2012 unpaid debt: OUCA faced a debt issue related to a charity event; the university briefly refused to re-register OUCA, leading to it operating as the Oxford Conservative Association (OCA) for a period.
- 2020 controversy: A member quoted passages from the Rivers of Blood speech at a debate; the member resigned, and accusations of a rigged election led to disciplinary actions and expulsions.
- 2021–2023 governance crises: Allegations of financial and interpersonal misconduct against the then-president led to disciplinary action. In 2023, the disciplinary committee removed Caleb van Ryneveld from the presidency, and a subsequent ruling by the senior member created a dispute over who was truly in charge.

Presidents and leadership
OUCA has a long history of presidents dating back to 1924. The list includes many notable figures who later rose to prominent roles in politics and public life. The association continues to elect leaders on a termly basis, with procedures for handling disputes and discipline outlined in its rules.

Official sources and further information
Official OUCA materials and updates are available on their website: ouconservatives.com.