NAME... Ben Rogers, 31, human rights activist and journalist.
WELL KNOWN FOR... crossing the border into Burma illegally, journeying in the jungles with the Karen resistance, visiting refugees, internally displaced people, political prisoners, dissidents. Wrote 'New Ground' with James Mawdsley and is now Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. Ben works for Christian Solidarity Worldwide and wrote a book about Burma, "A Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma's Karen People". Also travels regularly to Pakistan, East Timor and other places of persecution.
CONSERVATIVE PARTY HISTORY... Parliamentary Candidate in the City of Durham in 2005 (www.benrogers.org.uk) where his vote fell because of a strong LibDem performance. Previously he was Chairman of Royal Holloway, University of London Conservative Students (which he revitalised) and was Secretary of Greater London Area Conservative Students. Ben was an early campaigner for David Cameron in the leadership election and wrote this article for ConservativeHome.
SPECIALIST AREAS... foreign policy, human rights, international development, social justice
DID YOU KNOW...? His sister Ruth is a successful violinist
MAIN STRENGTHS... A different kind of conservative with an almost unrivalled committment to human rights issues.
IDEAL CONSTITUENCY... a seat in the south of England.
MORE INFORMATION...
- www.conservativehumanrights.com
- www.newground.org.uk
- www.benrogers.org.uk
- www.csw.org.uk
- http://www.partnersworld.org/rogers.html
WOULD BEN BE ON YOUR GOLDLIST?
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VOTING IN THIS SURVEY HAS NOW CLOSED. 138 VOTES WERE RECEIVED. 50% WERE IN FAVOUR OF BEN ROGERS JOINING THE GOLDLIST. 39% WERE AGAINST. 11% DIDN'T KNOW.
