Rise and Fall
The Young Conservatives attracted a large following and, by 1955, claimed a membership of 150,000. This made it the largest political youth movement in a liberal democracy, though not all its members were strongly motivated by politics. A large part of its appeal lay in its social activities that brought young people together in a socially safe environment. Countless middle-class British couples met through the "YC's" dances, rambles, and charity events in the 1950s. However, the social dimension of the movement was to prove its ultimate downfall.
Former Young Conservatives activists include:
- BBC political editor, Nick Robinson, who was National Chairman of the YCs in the mid-1980s, elected as a moderate candidate.
- Andrew Rosindell MP, National Chairman in 1993-94
Membership fell from a peak of 250,000 to just a few thousand, while the rival organisation Conservative Students claimed significantly more members. The end came in 1998 when Conservative leader William Hague announced the closure of Young Conservatives and the launch of a new organisation, Conservative Future.
Read more about this topic: Young Conservatives
Famous quotes containing the words rise and, rise and/or fall:
“So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly rise and make them miserable.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one,
and come away.
For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;”
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“I know thee not, old man. Fall to thy prayers.
How ill white hairs becomes a fool and jester!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)