Conservative Campaign Headquarters
Encyclopedia
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, housing its central staff and committee members.
As of May 2010, the post of Conservative Party chairman is split between Baroness Warsi and Andrew Feldman. The Director of Operations was, until 2006, Gavin Barwell
Gavin Barwell
Gavin Laurence Barwell is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Croydon Central since the 2010 general election.He is also the Head Governor of Trinity School in Croydon.-Education:...
.
Establishment
The establishment of Conservative Central Office dates back to 1870, with the creation of professional support for the Party by Sir John GorstJohn Eldon Gorst
Sir John Eldon Gorst PC, QC, FRS was a British lawyer and politician. He served as Solicitor General for England and Wales from 1885 to 1886 and as Vice-President of the Committee on Education between 1895 and 1902....
. Following election defeats in 1906 and 1910, in 1911 the post of Party Chairman
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
was created to oversee the work of the Central Office.
Location
Until 1958 CCO was based at Abbey HouseAbbey House
Abbey House may refer to:*Abbey House, London*Abbey House, Cirencester*Abbey House, Dorset*Abbey House, Wiltshire, for which see Abbey House Gardens*Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness...
, Victoria Street
Victoria Street
Victoria Street is the name of several streets in various countries:In Australia:* Victoria Street, Kings Cross* Victoria Street railway station, New South Wales* Victoria Street, Melbourne, Victoria...
, then moving to No. 32 Smith Square
Smith Square
Smith Square is a square in the Westminster district of London, just south of the Palace of Westminster. The centre of the square is occupied by St John's, Smith Square, a Baroque church now used as a concert hall...
, Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
. This was the scene of many televised historic moments in Conservative history from Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's victory rallies to Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
's resignation. CCO moved in 2004 to nearby 25 Victoria Street, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for more high-tech facilities, and has subsequently been known as Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).
On 6 March 2007, CCHQ moved again, this time to 30 Millbank
Millbank Tower
Millbank Tower is a high skyscraper in the City of Westminster at Millbank, on the banks of the River Thames in London, in the United Kingdom. The Tower was constructed in 1963 for Vickers and was originally known as Vickers Tower. It was designed by Ronald Ward and Partners and built by John...
, Westminster; part of the property portfolio of David and Simon Reuben
David and Simon Reuben
David and Simon Reuben are well known British businessmen and philanthropists. In the Forbes magazine List of billionaires 2011, ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK, the brothers were placed second with an estimated fortune of £5.5 billion...