LGBT+ Conservatives is run by an Executive Team supported by a General Council. All positions are voluntary and elected annually.
All Members are eligible to stand, nominate and vote in the elections. Current Members will receive details of how to vote at the opening of the ballot by email. If you need to update your email address or have a question about your membership please visit our Membership Portal, or email Ben Joce - [email protected].
Election Timetable
Nominations open - 12 February 2020
Nominations close - 27 February 2020
Ballot opens - 13 March 2020
Ballot closes - 03 April 2020
All closing times are at midnight
Nominations have been received for the following roles:
Chairman - unopposed
Elena Bunbury
Deputy Chairman - election
John Cope
It’s been a privilege to serve LGBT+ Conservatives over the last few years, helping to arrange events, campaign across the UK, grow our presence at party conference, and organise our first national conference. With your support, I’d like to use this experience to support the incoming chairman as their deputy. A new chairman offers the chance to do things differently. We need more social events (not just in London!), more money/training for aspiring LGBT+ candidates, and a bigger presence at Prides and Party Conference than ever. 100 words isn’t very many, so feel free to get in touch: @john_cope
Sue Pascoe
I wish to see our group focus more on influencing policy and improving our representation within our party. Freedom of thought, action and deed is the essence of personal identity and conservatism. No matter what our sexual orientation, gender identity, variation of sex characteristic or personal expression, we should have equal opportunity to succeed on merit, our rights should be protected and we should continue the pressure to see them enhanced. I will bring my extensive business and life experience to regularly interact with members and have our voice heard with relevant party officials and government.
Richard Salt
I’ve been involved with LGBT+ Conservatives for five years, serving on the General Council and Vice Chairman Membership and Events. I live in Leeds and have been active politicially in the area as a Association Chairman and Area Officer. I’ve also been involved with the Conservative Party Forum and founded and ran my own Northern Policy Social Group, ThinkNorth. If elected I would continue to support more active engagement with membership, especially in the regions outside London. As an organisation we should also be more proactive with promoting and suggesting LGBT+ policy to the government.
Honorary Secretary - no nominations
No nominations received.
Honorary Treasurer - unopposed
Sean Anstee
Vice-Chairman Candidates' Fund - unopposed
Scott Seaman-Digby
Vice-Chairman Membership - election
Niall McDougall
have served on the executive of LGBT+Conservatives for the past five years as VC Membership, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary. I now want to focus on membership of the organisation: building on our base, growing the numbers, focusing on increasing representation across the LGBT+ spectrum, and geographical areas across the UK. Professionally I am Lead Commissioner for Sexual Health and Substance Misuse for a government authority. I would invest my professional skills in the role, dedicating my time and energies wholeheartedly. I will advise the organisation as required with expertise (i.e. PrEP commissioning) and grow the membership for the future.
Richard Salt
I’ve been involved with LGBT+ Conservatives for five years, serving on the General Council and Vice Chairman Membership and Events. I live in Leeds and have been active politicially in the area as a Association Chairman and Area Officer. I’ve also been involved with the Conservative Party Forum and founded and ran my own Northern Policy Social Group, ThinkNorth. If elected I would continue to support more active engagement with membership, especially in the regions outside London. As an organisation we should also be more proactive with promoting and suggesting LGBT+ policy to the government.
Vice-Chairman Outreach - election
Munish Chopra-Evans
Joe Porter
Hi everyone, I’m Joe Porter and I’m proud to have served on the LGBT+ Conservatives General Council for the last year and to have campaigned for LGBT+ equality for many years. I’m a District Councillor and the first ever Cabinet Member for Climate Change in the Staffordshire Moorlands. I was previously a Stonewall Young Campaigner and represented the UK at the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Forum where I championed LGBT+ human rights. I would love the opportunity to become Vice Chair for Outreach or be re-elected onto the General Council to continue the fight for LGBT+ equality within the Conservative Party.
Xavier White
We must be an organisation for the whole of the UK, not London alone. We must represent all LGBT+ people within our party, whether female, BAME, religious, trans, disabled, intersex, young, or old. I want to serve as V-C Outreach to help the unrepresented, often forgotten communities. I’ve served LGBT+ Conservatives for 7 years; founded an LGBT+ charity at 17; and currently chair the UK CSR Committee for the world’s 14th most powerful brand, coordinating 30 people and 3 teams. Trust me with your vote so we can achieve full regional and intersectional representation.
General Council - election of 6
John Cope
It’s been a privilege to serve LGBT+ Conservatives over the last few years, helping to arrange events, campaign across the UK, grow our presence at party conference, and organise our first national conference. With your support, I’d like to use this experience to support the incoming chairman as their deputy. A new chairman offers the chance to do things differently. We need more social events (not just in London!), more money/training for aspiring LGBT+ candidates, and a bigger presence at Prides and Party Conference than ever. 100 words isn’t very many, so feel free to get in touch: @john_cope
Robin Edwards
I been actively involved in Conservative Party politics since I was a teenager. At university I was head of the Conservative Society at King’s College London and where I managed to get all the other political societies deratified due to lack of members. I went onto work for the then Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister, Owen Paterson MP. I stood as a Conservative council candidate in Tower Hamlets in 2018 and have recently been made deputy chair of my local association, Bow and Bethnal Green. I’m passionate about LGBT+ rights and the fight for equality.
David Findlay
Will Fletcher
I have worked in operations for an LGBT+ charity for the past six years. I also have a number of experiences of governance, this includes having sat on three trustee boards and been the Chair of Governors at an East London primary school. I’ve also been an active member of both the party and LGBT+ Conservatives for several years, including standing as a council candidate and campaigning in seats around the country. I want to bring my experience of governance and my passion for our organisation to the general council, supporting the executive to continue growing and strengthening LGBT+ Conservatives.
Charley Jarrett
Six years’ continuous service with LGBT+ Conservatives in various roles: Events, General Council, London Co-ordinator. Proven track record of organising socials, fundraisers, campaign days, Pride entries, Queer Question Time appearances, working groups and responses to government consultations. Trans ally, keen to support LGBT+ Conservatives in fighting transphobia in the media and our majority to pursue progressive reforms, particularly around the Gender Recognition Act. Keen too, of course, to continue flaunting the great things we’ve done since 2010 – and tell the Left they do not own the LGBT vote.
Ben Joce
For the past year I have been the membership officer for the LGBT conservatives, during that time I have administered membership, implemented a new system and attended many socials, prides and Conservative party events promoting the group. My time commitment with my work has unfortunately meant that I could not put myself forward for the membership role this year however I would to still like offer my support and assistance to the organisation through the general council role and hope you elect me to do so.
Owen Meredith
Long-time campaigner and former parliamentary candidate, I have spent my time on LGBT+ Conservatives Council to date focussed on the Candidates Fund and broadening representation in the community. It is vital that we use the years ahead to build a war chest to support 'out' candidates and deepen our community engagement. If you re-elect me to Council, I will seek to continue this work and support LGBT+ Conservatives to be a strong voice for the Conservative Party in the LGBT+ community, and stronger voice for LGBT+ community within our party. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @owenlmeredith
Sam Ness
Sue Pascoe
I wish to see our group focus more on influencing policy and improving our representation within our party. Freedom of thought, action and deed is the essence of personal identity and conservatism. No matter what our sexual orientation, gender identity, variation of sex characteristic or personal expression, we should have equal opportunity to succeed on merit, our rights should be protected and we should continue the pressure to see them enhanced. I will bring my extensive business and life experience to regularly interact with members and have our voice heard with relevant party officials and government.
Joe Pattinson
Based in York, I currently work within a public sector role but also a keen linguist. I'm also Deputy Chair Political of the York Association. Anybody who knows me will know that the campaigning side of things is a great motivation and passion of mine. So my main focus will be to work with the team towards ensuring a more emboldened approach to bolster campaigning support for our fantastic array of elected LGBT+ representatives and indeed candidates. Therefore, if we want LGBT+ Conservatives elected, I believe it is vital we give them the support they deserve.
Joe Porter
Hi everyone, I’m Joe Porter and I’m proud to have served on the LGBT+ Conservatives General Council for the last year and to have campaigned for LGBT+ equality for many years. I’m a District Councillor and the first ever Cabinet Member for Climate Change in the Staffordshire Moorlands. I was previously a Stonewall Young Campaigner and represented the UK at the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Forum where I championed LGBT+ human rights. I would love the opportunity to become Vice Chair for Outreach or be re-elected onto the General Council to continue the fight for LGBT+ equality within the Conservative Party.
Xavier White
We must be an organisation for the whole of the UK, not London alone. We must represent all LGBT+ people within our party, whether female, BAME, religious, trans, disabled, intersex, young, or old. I want to serve on General Council to help the unrepresented, often forgotten communities. I’ve served LGBT+ Conservatives for 7 years; founded an LGBT+ charity at 17; and currently chair the UK CSR Committee for the world’s 14th most powerful brand, coordinating 30 people and 3 teams. Trust me with your vote so we can achieve regional and intersectional representation.
Regional Coordinators - unopposed
Jacob Birch - Yorkshire and The Humber
Barry Flux - North East
Tom Harris - North West
Niall McDougall - London
