University of Aberdeen Conservative and Unionist Association

Aberdeen University Conservative and Unionist Association
Abbreviation	AUCUA
Formation	1881
Type	Political Association
Location	Aberdeen, Scotland;
Chairman	Henry Carre
Honorary President	Andrew Bowie MP
Main organ	Executive Committee
Affiliations	Conservative Future Scotland
Website	https://www.ausa.org.uk/societies/society/aucua

The Aberdeen University Conservative and Unionist Association (AUCUA) is a student Conservative association formed in 1881. It is the third oldest Conservative student association in the United Kingdom. AUCUA is the largest political association on the University of Aberdeen's campus.^[1]

It consists of an executive committee that consists of six positions where members are elected annually at the association's AGM. It is directly affiliated to the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Aberdeen University Students' Association.

Notable former members

Michael Bowes-Lyon (18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne) - Former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords.
Andrew Bowie MP - Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and former Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party.
Derek Brownlee - Former MSP for South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region) and member of the Advisory Board of Reform Scotland.
Dr Eamonn Butler - Co-founder of the Adam Smith Institute.
Finlay Carson MSP- Member of the Scottish Parliament for Galloway and West Dumfries and Convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.
James Cran - Former Member of Parliament for Beverley and Shadow Deputy Leader of the House.
Murdo Fraser MSP – Member of the Scottish Parliament for Mid Scotland and Fife and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery.
Kirstene Hair - Former MP for Angus.
David Maclean (Lord Blencathra) - Member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament for the Penrith constituency, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside and Chief Whip of the Conservative Party.
Dr Nanette Milne - Former Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland.
Ross Thomson - Former Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland.
Dr David Torrance – Author, contemporary historian, freelance political journalist.
Paul Wheelhouse - Former Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for South Scotland and Scottish Government Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands.

Current Committee

Below are the members of the 143rd committee.

Chairman - Henry Carre
Deputy Chairman - Cameron McPhail
Chancellor - John Guyan
Secretary - Douglas Barnett
Social & Welfare Officer - Abigail Brooks
Party Relations Officer - Abigail Brooks

Chairmen

2024/Present - Henry Carre
Dec 2023/24 - Shane Painter (Interim)
Mar/Dec 2023 - Haytham Alrifai
2022/23 - Eitan Godsi/Marco Oosthuizen
2021/22 - Nestor Carlsen-Devereux
2020/21 - Rami Jerrow
2019/20 - Joshua Mills
2018/19 - Gavin MacKenzie
2017/18 - Emma Farquhar
2016/17 - Emma Farquhar
2015/16 - Alexander McNab
2014/15 - Nicholas Layden
2013/14 - Nicholas Layden
2012/13 - Andrew Bowie
2011/12 - Declan Pang
2010/11 - Duncan Stewart
2009/10 - Andrea Sharpe
2008/09 - Oliver Lash-Williams
2007/08 - Leslie K. Clark
2006/07 - Tobias Lebmann
2005/06 - Tobias Lehmann
2004/05 - Frank Webster
2001/02 - James Ashton
2000/01 - Alan Martin
1999/00 - Philip Atkinson
1998/99 - Louis Darrant
1997/98 - Paul Dickson

Media

Members of the association have, in recent years, been interviewed by various news outlets such as euronews, Sky News and BBC Newsnight. They also maintain an active relationship with the Aberdeen University Student Newspaper 'The Gaudie' and regularly provide speakers to the Aberdeen Student Radio for discussion and debate.

References

^ Thorne, Robert. "What's life like for the University of Aberdeen's independence society?". No. July 17, 2023. The National. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

[1] Thorne, Robert. "What's life like for the University of Aberdeen's independence society?". No. July 17, 2023. The National. Retrieved 8 June 2024.

[1]