Don Porter reflects on his time as the most senior volunteer in the Conservative Party after a total of nine years on the Board

Don Porter steps down as Chairman of the National Conservative Convention (NCC) next month after three years in that role, and a total of nine years on the Party Board (as an NCC Vice-President, President and co-opted member). During those years he has worked with four party leaders, five party treasurers, nine party chairmen and attended no fewer than 114 Board meetings. He spoke to Jonathan Isaby last week.

Despite being the most senior party volunteer in the country, with a direct line to David Cameron et al, many will not know exactly what the role of Chairman of the National Conservative Convention actually entails and you certainly won't have read about Don Porter in the newspapers.

"This is the first time in three years I've spoke to a journalist," he tells me. "I regard it as a mild point of success that I've not been quoted in the press at all: I'm here to represent the volunteers to the party and not to the press."

Representing the views of the grassroots to the party is the key to the role of the Chairman of the NCC, the 850-strong body comprising all constituency chairmen, area officers, regional officers, along with 42 representatives each from Conservative Future (CF) and the Conservative Women's Organisation (CWO). Whilst he does chair the six-monthly meetings of the NCC at Spring Forum and Party Conference, that is in essence the smallest element of the role. However, virtually all of what he does during the rest of the year necessarily takes place behind closed doors and often involves fire-fighting in areas where problems have arisen which need a solution or resolution found quietly, swiftly, professionally and well away from public glare.

Beginnings

Don joined the Conservative Party in Macclesfield in 1969 and was elected ward treasurer at his very first meeting forty years ago next month. He then became branch chairman and was deputy chairman of his university association before he moved South and became successively a branch treasurer, assistant constituency treasurer, constituency treasurer, association chairman, area treasurer, area chairman and then regional chairman of South East England, before being elected to the NCC. He says that this extensive experience in the voluntary party has informed his attitudes as Chairman of the Convention:

"What has been enormously beneficial in terms of trying to represent the volunteers is that I can still understand what it’s like to be a branch treasurer... or to campaign in what now would be called a target seat up in Lancaster. That’s been hugely beneficial."

He did think about trying to become an MP and was on the candidates' list, but hadn't applied for any seats when he decided to stand for the regional chairmanship.

"I decided to go down the voluntary rather than parliamentary route, never regretted it, and have loved every role I had, but none more than the current one. It's been fascinating, hugely exciting and an enormous privilege."

Creating "One Team"

His over-riding ambition as incoming NCC chairman three years ago was to help create a feeling of "one team" inside the Conservative Party, with volunteers, parliamentarians, and so on all singing from the same hymn sheet and working harmoniously together. He says that this was partly about delivering in practice the vision which William Hague had outlined as leader when he introduced a single party constitution and Board comprising all elements of the party in the late 1990s.

After the (unsuccessful) attempt under Michael Howard in 2005 to change the party constitution and take away the right of rank-and-file members to elect the leader, Don says that he had observed a "deterioration in the relationship between MPs and volunteers" and that "the greatest priority was to build the bridges with the parliamentary party". He and his strategy team (comprising all regional chairmen and the chairmen of CF, CWO and Local Government plus a few others) have regular meetings with Sir Michael Spicer and the Executive of the 1922 committee, a relationship which he now describes as "highly effective" and "one of trust". Similar sessions with leading Tory peers have also been instituted.

Another regular fixture has been a six-weekly one-to-one with David Cameron.

"It’s a dialogue... it's no good walking into the Leader's office and banging a table on behalf of the voluntary party... I go in there prepared with anywhere between three and five points. It’s a two-way process, and there are often points that David wants to make to me. He has been fantastic in receiving me into his Leader’s office, we talk freely and I know he appreciates the directness of the feedback - hopefully always courteously - but he has been a real star, always accommodating me every six or so weeks. David has always been a great listener to the feedback I have given him."

As for making senior activists around the country feel part of "one team", he instituted a programmed called "A Day in the Life", through which association chairmen and other key volunteers get to visit CCHQ for a day to see the building at work and meet with senior politicians and professionals. Over 350 senior volunteers have now been through this programme, which he says has considerably enhanced the relationship between the centre and associations.

Awarding excellence

One innovation of his has been to ensure that the party centrally recognises campaigning excellence, with awards being presented annually to activists performing especially well as campaigners, recruiters and in contributing to their communities through social action projects. Don was also delighted to introduce lifetime achievement awards to recognise what he describes as "the quiet people who have never held office but who have worked for the party year in, year out, in any circumstances".

At this year's ceremony, David Cameron presented awards to fifteen people in their eighties and nineties, including one posthumously to a 93-year-old woman from Yorkshire who had died just four weeks beforehand. Having driven a 15-year-old William Hague to his first party conference, she had revelled in remaining involved in the party throughout her old age, almost in defiance of the future party leader who famously said in 1977 half his audience wouldn't be there in thirty years' time.    

Communications

Another of Don's aims was to make improvements on the communications front. And since taking over the chairmanship of the NCC, he has been issuing a monthly report of every Board meeting to the 850 convention members, which goes out via email a few days after the meetings. He says that whilst he has not reported on highly confidential and financial matters, recipients of the document have greatly appreciated it. I suggested that it should perhaps be disseminated even more widely, perhaps even on ConservativeHome - something which his successors might like to consider.

"We’ve gone from no communication after Board meetings to the document I've sent out after each meeting," he says. "Is this enough? I don’t know. Has it been appreciated? Yes."

Changing the leader's mind on the A-List

One issue which he found himself addressing during his chairmanship was that of the infamous priority list - or so-called "A-List" - of parliamentary candidates, where the party leadership decided that Conservative associations in the safest seats would only be able to select a candidate from a favoured one hundred or so. This provoked a hostile reaction from a large number of activists, as Don explains:

"I was getting messages from all around the country saying 'This is not working as well as it should’, ‘This is the centre dictating too much’ and I was also picking up huge numbers of comments from competent white male candidates, many of whom asked me for a cup of coffee, carefully to put their case to me... Over a period of months I picked up all these messages and then I asked someone who I have enormous respect for, John Strafford, if he would come back to me with a report of what he thought should happen. John came back to me, I had other people feeding in to me, I spoke to [1922 Committee Chairman] Sir Michael Spicer and eventually I walked into David Cameron’s office with a 12-slide PowerPoint presentation and I gently, quietly and hopefully professionally put the case to him."

His case was that huge progress had been made on selecting more female candidates, but that in order to address the widespread concerns of activists and candidates not on the A-List, associations should be free to select from the entire candidates' list (albeit with the proviso of a minimum of half the interviewees being women at all stages in the process).

"My point there was that we needed these key players feeling on side and feeling at least that they had a fair chance... I put the proposal to David, which we worked on together and effectively. He went away, thought about it, said he was very grateful for the evidence that was presented in a very calm, professional way and we did then provide associations with option of looking at the whole list... It completely took the sting out of the situation."  

Be obsessed about winning the general election

So, finally, what advice would he give to his successor?

"Never waste a minute. Always remember who elected you. When necessary, stand your ground; and be prepared to give a minimum of 40 hours per week to this important role. That's how much time I have regularly dedicated to it - in addition to 60 hours on my business - so I'm breaking the European Working Time Directive massively, but I've no problem doing that! In the spirit of the Conservative Party, I do it with the freedom of choice.

"Finally, my successor will obviously be in office as we move towards the next general election. I have never attended or called a meeting in the last three years which I didn't believe was going to lead to bettering our chances of winning the election. So my overriding message is to be obsessed with winning the elections this year and then the general election: nothing else matters."

Jonathan Isaby

Comments

[Sally Roberts]

Thank you for this interesting article.

Don Porter is a shining example of someone who has dedicated his life to the Conservative Party and, rather than spend his time as an armchair general, criticising and sniping at the Leadership, he sees what needs to be done and gets on with doing it!

I certainly think it would be a good idea to publish what the Board is doing on a regular basis on Conservative Home. That way people might actually see that those they tend to think of as "big wigs" are actually flesh and blood people, like the rest of us, who worked their way up from Branch committees onwards.

Well done, Don for all you have done for us over the years and very best of luck in the future.

[Marjorie Baylis]

I have written to Don Porter on several occasions about various matters pertaining to the party and have always found him to be an extraordinarily courteous man and incredibly efficient with great charm. I am saddened that he is leaving but wish him well in the future. His successor has a great deal to live up to I think.

[martin]

Well done for standing up against CCO's 'A List' phenomena Don. They seemed to be at the time obsessed with this 'elite' list of candidates, many of whom i have met and i can tell you are no way 'elite' rather at best'average'..

Unfortuantely i like many were not even allowed on to the general approved list and i dont want to sound negative or anti CCO but i have to say, it has become a kind of 'club' whereby so long that you know people in the centre or you fit the 'new bill' you get on.

Those of us who as a members of the voluntary party (note not leaches hanging around as researchers) for the past 8+ years, having been involved centrally, locally, etc i just found CCO's attitude to those people like myself who actually put in the work and actually have a 'good' reputation locally along with results to back that up were & are completely ignored.

I couldnt believe it, hence my frustration at the time with the bureaucratic process, it was annoying. I am very good at taking on Labour and the Lib Dems, and yet in the end neither of them beat me, it was my own party. I couldnt believe it.

After everything, and i wasn't asking to be given a seat, i was asking for the chance to be approved so i could put myself forward and allow the members of a respective seat(s) to decide. Had they said no i would have sat down quietly. But the fact remains i was not even allowed to put myself forward as CCO deemed that 'i wasnt good enough' yet, i know of many PPCs now who havent had half the experience, nor speaking ability, nor loyalty to the party, yet they are all through.,

I feel tremendously let down by the process. I thought we were supposed to be fighting Labour and the Lib Dems and when it came down to it, my own party was fighting against me. I still to this day cannot believe it. And i am still behind Cameron and think Michael Howard should take credit for helping him. But i just feel as a young man, trying to do his bit, the prospect of being told by CCO 'to wait another 4 years' to try again, is crazy. There is no reward for merit and that is a fact.

Porter seems to have made a fair bit of sense in his time, i think it is a shame he's off and i can only hope someone who takes a balanced view as he did replaces him.

To me, i'm no longer involved front line, it is a real shame and many people i meet from the past few years often ask how things are going, when i explain that i wasnt approved at the PAB, most find it unbelievable. I just think that the selection process needs to be overhauled because at the moment it seems to reward all the wrong people.

[Margaret Chellingworth]

I have known Don Porter for my years and he has been the most fantastic person to fly the flag for the Volunteers and the Professionals. His enthusiasm, motivation and dedication is second to none. Don will be sorely missed from this and many other positions that he has held within the Party.

I would very much like to think that there will still be a position for Don and in my opinion his work could continue if he was in The House of Lords.
Thank you Don for all you have done for so many of us.

Posted by Margaret Chellingworth 30th March

[donald cameron]

I persuaded a classic A list candidate to shun the list (despite Central Office urging to the contrary) and try to make it from the General List. Now he is flying as PPC in a central London constituency and the voters absolutely love him, starting with a hotly contested open selection. And he will win back the seat. Don Porter rightly sensed the party mood and had what it took to make the point. We need to be sure that our next Chairman of the NCC also knows how to fight his corner.

[John Strafford]

Don,
Many thanks for your kind words, but the credit for altering the "A" list rules is all yours, for taking on board the dissension it was creating in the voluntary party.
If we ever have an elected Party Chairman you will make an excellent candidate.

[John Strafford]

P.S.
Cllr. Derek Tipp and Mike Baker were co-authors of the Report I did for Don.

[Jonathan Lehrle]

Politics is a bit like going on a tiger shoot or waiting in the trenches...and you can have no better person at your side than Don. I have known him for a couple of years and found him to be a genuine listener, his eyes don't glaze over as with so many Party people. He will give you a fair hearing and if your cause needs championing he will take it to the very top if needs be. All in all a top man and just because he is stepping down as Chairman of the NCC I hope it does not mean the last of his involvement in Party dealings.

[john parkes]

In the three years that I was constituency chairman I fought an unavailing battle to overturn the concept of a minimum subscription (at that time £25). There were many older people who had been stalwart supporters and who could no longer afford to pay at that rate, even though they were willing to work for the Party. In my view, any amount was better than nothing and once one had their five bob, one had their vote. We ought in my view to have aimed to become a mass movement once again.
The second matter of policy pursued by the Centre at that time was of enforcing, to all intents and purposes, the amalgamation of adjacent constituency offices, with the stated aim of reducing overheads and freeing up money for campaigning. The net result was that my successor succumbed (rather too willingly, it has to be said) and a merger came about. This has left our geographically huge constituency without a political presence and focus, which the incumbent LibDem will exploit mercilessly at the next election (the Tories have given up and done a bunk, will be his line I believe). As to more money for campaigning, I note that the amount spent on this aspect in the 2008 accounts was shown as "0".
Both of these matters were put by me to Don Porter during his visits to the Area at that time and he was perfectly charming, nodded sagely and did precisely nothing.
For this reason I am no longer a subscribing member to the local Conservative Association (I believe there still is one, although much of the heart has been torn out of it)

[Mark Hudson]

UNVERIFIABLE COMMENT OVERWRITTEN

[David Belchamber]

"So my overriding message is to be obsessed with winning the elections this year and then the general election: nothing else matters."

I know that many constituencies do actively encourage political debate (Desmond Swayne in the New Forest was a great supporter of frequent lunches to which he brought people like Mark Hoban, Michael Gove etc) but others seem to offer purely social events and fundraising.

Could not ConHome be introduced to every constituency chairman in the land through the National Conservative Convention (of which I had never heard before this timely article), in the hope that those that are politics-lite like John Parkes' Association might at least have something interesting to read - and possibly argue about?

[Mark Hudson]

Ed

It's all very well overwriting my comments. I am happy to provide you with a copy of the Tribunal's verdict which runs to over 50 pages and confirms my points in detail.

MH

[Super Blue]

I know who I would like to succeed him - a larger-than-life figure in more ways than one!

[Paul Swaddle, Regional Chairman SE]

Excellent article, its not often the internal workings of the Party are opened up. And its nice to see the positive comments from about someone for who I have great admiration. I have enjoyed serving on his Strategy Team.

As with any top role there are difficult descions to be made, and this will always result in some feathers being ruffled, but that is part of the job.

Paul

[Steve Bell]

Don is not just a gentleman, but has always conducted himself with great integrity with all his dealings within the Party.

He leaves a legacy which will be built on, as the foundations Don has laid are well founded and true in value. Don has dug deep for the One Party Concept but this is only one of his achievements.

Over the years of knowing and working with Don, the years he has dedicated to the grassroots and all the projects he started, he has completed them all with humility and is an example to us all.

[Adrian Hilton]

Don is one of those rare people in politics - a gentleman of integrity, conviction and humility. He is impeccably trustworthy, consummately professional, utterly dedicated and deeply compassionate. John Strafford is right to point out that Don would win an election for Party Chairman hands down.

That he deserves a peerage is beyond question. Lord Porter would be a refreshingly meritocratic appointment, and I trust the Leader's Office is already considering this just (and unsought) reward.

Since Don has dedicated 40 hours a week to the party while he has been Chairman of the National Convention, I have no doubt that Brian has frequently been left taking care of nuts and bolts issues in their company (and not infrequently fielding the phone calls!).

I'd like to pay tribute to them both for their dedicated service to the Party. But I feel sure (and sincerely hope) we are talking about an elevation rather than a retirement.

[David Gold]

I am deeply saddened that Don will no longer sit at the party's top table. He has been a tremendous friend to many of us candidates and has been a steadying influence on people at all levels. I sincerely hope he will be offered a suitable role in the future so that we do not lose this man's enormous experience and expertise.