Ben Howlett: Two years of progress for ConservativeFuture

Ben Howlett is National Chairman of Conservative Future. Follow Ben on Twitter.

This October marks the second anniversary of my election as National Chairman of Conservative Future.  I want to take this opportunity to let members know what has happened, what is to come and also to explain why I believe that CF is the strongest of the political youth wings.

This year’s Freshers’ Fair campaign is at an end.  Last year CF branches across the UK signed up around 6,000 new supporters; this year results have now come in and show no drop in new recruits nationally. That makes CF by far the most popular political youth wing on campuses as well as holding the title of the largest youth wing of any political party in the UK.  

Conservative Future has got a strong narrative, a narrative of aspiration.  Those who get involved with us on campus see us as an organisation that gives them the opportunity to campaign on issues such as improving the quality of vocational education and increasing the number of apprenticeships for young people.  Those that do our organisation down consider this to be a fabrication; however no one can doubt the continued growth of our organisation as a result of this stand.  

Ben Howlett: Let’s use the Olympics to sell Britain PLC, as the Olympic flame sparks economic and social aspiration

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future

Tonight the eyes of the world will be watching as the Olympic Flame soaring above London is lit. There is no better time for a spark to ignite the flames of economic growth and social opportunity.  This Government has the chance to use this opportunity to sell Britain PLC and improve the lives of generations.
 
The Olympics can and should provide the confidence that will underpin the revitalisation of the economy.  With the world focused on Britain, the Government can use this opportunity to remind everyone that we are a great investment opportunity.
 

Ben Howlett: Today's start-up loans scheme backs young people

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.

Today’s announcement that young people will be able to access StartUp loans through Start-Up Britain will not only help a generation of young people who aspire to own and build businesses, it is also fundamental to helping build economic growth.
 
The Government are creating an £82million loan guarantee scheme through the Startup Loans Company that they believe will help ensure young people aged 18-24 are given rock solid support that they desperately need to start up their own businesses.  The first few quarters of a start-up company are the most fragile.  Young people find it hard to gain loans from banks when they cannot have a track record of successful repayment from loans.   These new loans are going to become available so that young people can get the support they deserve.  The Government also believes these loans will, in the words of the Prime Minister. support “that spark of an idea into the next global brand”.
 

Ben Howlett: The Chancellor's Budget will help to create a society of aspiration for young people

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.

This week the Chancellor announced one of the most aspirational and radical Budgets this country has seen in decades.  It was a Budget that supports families, one that was unashamedly supportive of business and primarily supportive of those who want to do better for themselves and their families.

Over the last year, Conservative Future has been championing the agenda of aspiration as a core area for the Government to focus on.  The overwhelming majority of grassroots members are very pleased to hear the Chancellor stand up for those people who want to better themselves.  The Government is clearly trying to create a society of entrepreneurialism and it is beginning to succeed; one where growth is at the heart of the economic message.  Just contrast this to the Budgets of Labour, ever-increasing borrowing with no way of paying it back and allowing people to stay in poverty without any genuine incentive to rise up the ladder of aspiration.

This was not just an aspirational budget, it was a progressive budget too; one where the neediest within society received more support in a fairer way. For young working people the change to the personal tax allowance up to £9,205 from April 2013 enables 880,000 people to be lifted out of tax altogether.  Young people have been freed from a tax system allowing them now to save and invest for the future.  People like myself who do not have a pension, working in the private sector, can use that money to invest in their futures.  They can use the money to help support local economies by spending the money in local shops and businesses.  This has a great effect on helping young people understand that this government is providing a society of economic aspiration to achieve their own potential.

One of the best things for young people to come out of the Chancellor’s Budget is the emphasis placed on young people to enter into business.  This Government is introducing enterprise ‘Micro Loans’ to support young people in setting up their own businesses.  Like students receive support to enter into higher education through the Students Loans Company, this budget has announced additional funds to encourage entrepreneurialism among young potential businessmen.  This will help to tackle youth unemployment and boost the economy.  The Government hopes 3,000-5,000 young entrepreneurs could receive such funds.

Ben Howlett: A New Year message from Conservative Future

Ben Howlett is Chairman of ConservativeFuture.

Over the last 18 months Conservative Future has seen a radical transformation.  We have seen more events, more campaigning, more social action projects and above all else a much improved reputation.  We are an integral part of the Conservative Party family and a campaign machine that can motivate hundreds of activists across the country to campaign for the Party.

I would like to use this New Year message to firstly thank members and all those that have supported Conservative Future this year and second to set out CF’s wider plans for 2012.  Over the last year Conservative Future has gained over 110 new branches with 310+ nationally, with a CF presence in over 90% of our universities.   There have been CF events with members of the Cabinet and we even had a reception with the Prime Minister.  Events not only happen in London, they happen across the UK, from Scarborough to Exeter, from Belfast to Medway.  We are internationally respected, hosting a series of Conservative politicians from across the world and even looking to build CF branches in ex-pat communities across Europe.  Our communications have improved massively and we look forward to a continuation of our monthly newsletter Your Voice that is sent to all CF members across the UK advertising events and bringing news to members.

I want to take this opportunity to give a special thank you to all those that have helped Conservative Future grow and transform over the last year.  To the 2010-2011 National CF Executive who worked so hard to ensure that CF was doing more than it has ever before.  To those at CCHQ who have provided so much support behind the scenes.  To Andrew Stephenson, a brilliant local MP and a great supporter of CF within the House of Commons and in particular the Co-Chairmen Andrew Feldman and Sayeeda Warsi, who have both helped support CF in so many ways they are too long to list.  Last but not least our members, who have campaigned for the successful No to AV campaign, campaigned for Boris to be returned as Mayor of London and held fantastic events across the UK.  With a new executive, we look to take CF to the next level.

Ben Howlett: Miliband has nothing credible to offer students

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future

Ed Miliband’s flagship announcement this weekend on tuition fees has already collapsed in confusion. It is yet another demonstration of Ed Miliband’s weakness as Labour leader.

As David Willetts has said, this is a monumental u-turn. Since June last year, Ed Milliband has been promising to replace tuition fees with a graduate tax. Last June, he said a "graduate tax would replace upfront tuition fees...I want to consult widely before publishing detailed plans later this year". In September, he said he opposed "higher and higher tuition fees, which lead to higher and higher debts for people". And as recently as July this year he was still promising a graduate tax, telling Birmingham Mail readers: "I would like a system of graduate tax which is more related to ability to pay and also how much comes in from Government and the individual".

Ben Howlett: Why this Government has got it right on Gay Marriage

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.  

Yesterday, news broke that the Government is to launch a consultation on same-sex civil marriages, leading to legislation on same-sex marriages before the next election. This is something many, including some Conservatives, have campaigned on for decades and is something that has made me extremely proud to call myself a Conservative.

Having read the comments from Roger Helmer MEP, "Why the Government is wrong on gay marriage", I want to emphasise why these proposals are progressive and, most importantly, positively Conservative. As a gay man, who is in a long-term relationship with my partner, there is one thing that has concerned me since I came out to my family. It was the idea that entering into a commitment that meant more about tax benefits than about the love between two people. It is also a system that ensures that the belief of the individual is protected, therefore a person’s religious belief is respected.

Ben Howlett: Conservative Future launches new campaign: #IWantToGoToAFreeSchool

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.    

This week young people across the UK walked through their school gates to start a new academic year. This year however will be different for the many parents and children across the country who will be taking part in new opportunity to revolutionise England’s education system. Free Schools are an exciting alternative to existing schools which will help raise standards for children across the board.

Over the past few weeks I have been speaking to school pupils who have been using their summer holidays to spend time on the campaign trail for Boris in London and for by-elections across the UK. Having heard about Free Schools on the news, almost everyone has said to me 'I wish I was going to a Free School'.

The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has given permission for 24 new Free Schools to be delivered, helping to turn around the fundamental flaws in our education system. Under Labour too many children were failed, with the weakest schools concentrated in the poorest towns and cities. According to the OECD, over the last decade we plummeted down the league tables for maths, science and reading. Even though Labour threw money at the problem, the situation got worse. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds were still falling behind with figures showing that in one year just 40 pupils out of the 80,000 eligible for free school meals made it to Oxbridge. Labour only gave autonomy to a small number of academy schools in a small number of areas, even though the OECD have said that the world’s best education systems give schools more autonomy. Now, they perversely seem to be attacking those who genuinely believe they can improve their local schools.

Ben Howlett: This government's planning policies will help young people get a step up on the property ladder

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.    

As I grew up during the 1990s and early 2000s, my parents taught me that I should aspire to one day own a property.  Today I look back as a young professional who turned 25 in August with a sense of realism.  I know all too well the struggle that young people face to get that first step up onto the property ladder.

Over the last 13 years it has proven ever more difficult to own property.  Labour has left a generation of young people unable to aspire to the dreams of our Conservative forefathers. Home ownership under Labour fell to its lowest rate since 1990. In a speech to the Fabian Society, John Healey said: “Home ownership has been dropping since 2005 and I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing”. From the earliest days of Conservatism, Edmund Burke and contemporary Conservatives believed that self-betterment and upward social mobility is partly created by property ownership.  Labour have laid waste to something I believe passionately in; individual self-betterment.

Ben Howlett: Conservative Future welcomes today's Higher Education reforms which will make universities more accountable and transparent

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future.

Today's reforms proposed in the Higher Education White Paper, as explained by David Willetts here on ConHome earlier this afternoon, ensure students get their money's worth.

With progressive reforms to the higher education system proposed earlier this year, it is only fair that if students are asked to pay more once they graduate, Universities have an obligation to deliver more for students.

Under the white paper plans set out today, Universities will become more accountable and more transparent about what they are offering for students. The Government has been listening to students about how Universities should improve and the results in the White Paper set out today will benefit all students. There will be greater choice, better information before students apply, better teaching at university, more feedback on their work and better support for getting a job at the end of their courses.

As Conservative Future Chairman I have met with students across the UK and listened to their concerns about higher education. Their concerns were that under 13 years of Labour students were not trusted with their own choices. The White Paper proposes reforms that put power in the hands of students to make higher education institutions more responsive to their demands and choices.

Ben Howlett: EMA - Making a tough but fair decision

Ben Howlett is the National Chairman of Conservative Future

Once again it has been left to the coalition Government to make the hard decisions that will turn around Labour's legacy; the worst economic situation this country has ever seen.

This week faces a very difficult decision by the Government and MPs on Educational Maintenance Allowances.  In an ideal world we would not have to make spending cuts.  However, due to the economic incompetence by Labour we unfortunately do not have a pot of money saved for that rainy day.

As with public sector pay freezes, increases in bankers levies, and decreases in public spending, the EMA must also be evaluated against other forms of support.  You cannot say to a teacher your pay is frozen this
year when the EMA is being paid to almost half of young people in full-time education.  The reason behind this lies in fairness.  It is not fair when 9 out of 10 people who receive the EMA would stay in education
anyway without the EMA.

We must think about that 1 in 10 I mention who would not be able to participate without the grant.  The Government will never forget those from poorer backgrounds who rely on some kind of support.  Therefore the plans the Government are pursuing will ensure that there is a more targeted approach to student support.  This will not be delivered in Labour's top down bureaucratic way, but bottom up, led by the institution itself.  If a poorer student needs support the Government is empowering local education institutions to assess who requires additional support.

The proposals made by the Government are tough, but given the economic mess Labour left us with, these changes are fair and ensure that the poorest in society are encouraged still to continue their education.

Ben Howlett: How Conservative Future has been re-energised since the election of a new National Executive

Ben Howlett has been chairman of Conservative Future for 100 days.

Over the last 100 days since our election, my National Executive and I have worked tirelessly to rebuild the reputation of an organisation for which we care passionately. We can now say we have a professional national campaigning organisation which campaigns, runs social action, fundraises and holds really fun social events.

While campaigning to win the National Chairmanship I travelled the length and breadth of the country meeting CF members and supporting their events and since elected I have been doing exactly the same.  On a personal level it has changed my life, but the position is extraordinary on so many levels. I have addressed the Scottish CF Conference, campaigned in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election and supported social action projects across the country.

Over the last 100 days, rebuilding our reputation as an effective campaigning machine has been my number one priority. The brilliant support given by CCHQ has produced brilliant returns. Andrew Stephenson MP, Vice Chairman of the Party, has explained to MPs that CF is an effective campaigning resource and that there is no coincidence those MPs who won their seats in May mostly had a strong CF presence in their constituency. I also want to mention Fiona Hodgson and the Party Board who have ensured our organisation will have access to the National Excellence Awards, the Conservative Policy Forum and other membership and campaigning tools.