John Moorcraft: Greetings One And All

This is an introductory article to John's new CF Diary column.

As some of you may perhaps be aware, I have spent the best part of the last three years undertaking research to ascertain the extent to which the establishment of Conservative Future has revived the official young conservative movement in the United Kingdom.  Essentially, this research project involves comparison of the organisational structure, composition and political activities of Conservative Future with those of previous young conservative groups, such as The Young Conservatives and The Federation of Conservative Students, in order to assess how well CF is performing. 

Over the last 12 months, I have been undertaking interviews and distributing questionnaires to current members of Conservative Future, former prominent YC and FCS activists and Conservative Party voters aged under 30, as well as individuals associated with right wing political youth movements abroad, in order to obtain as comprehensive an understanding of contemporary young conservatism as possible. Considering my research project is merely a doctoral thesis, I have been overwhelmed by the phenomenal response I have received and my completed work, barring any last minute mishaps, should constitute the largest academic consideration of the official young conservative movement in the United Kingdom ever undertaken.

Approximately one month ago, the Editor of CF Diary approached me asking whether I would be prepared to contribute a weekly column to the website. It was proposed that I would use the knowledge I have acquired on the official young conservative movement to write an article every weekend for CF Diary placing developments occurring today within an appropriate historical context.  It gives me great pleasure to be able to accept this honorary invitation and I look forward to hopefully stimulating debate on CF Diary with my weekly ramblings on whatever aspect of Conservative Future has pleased/ amazed/ surprised/ depressed me at the particular moment when I come to write my article.

If any of you have any further questions about the work I am currently undertaking, or you have a suggestion about an aspect of Conservative Future you would like me to gaze my eye over, then please do not hesitate to contact me.  In the meantime (here comes the plug), please take a moment to have a look at my personal blog and I look forward to hearing your feedback on my subsequent articles in due course.