CWO x CCA: Spring Conference 2026

It was a privilege to work with the Conservative Councillor’s Association (CCA) to invite attendees to stand for local government, with a special panel at Spring Conference in Harrogate on International Women’s Day!

With standing room only, our delegates heard from Cllr. Susan Coleman (National CWO Deputy Chairman and elected Councillor for Severn Valley in Shropshire); CCA Deputy Chairman, Cllr. Charlotte Vernon and Samia Hersi (Chairman of Conservative Young Women, who has contested both local council elections and was the Conservative Party Parliamentary Candidate for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale in 2024). The panel was expertly chaired by National Convention Officer, Ahmereen Reza OBE.

All the speakers left the audience in no doubt of the honour and reward that serving as an elected representative can provide, as well as the camaderie and teamwork that is experienced as part of an election campaign. They also tackled questions on how to use social media effectively to campaign and how to tackle negativity, especially online.

Louise Brice, CWO National Chairman, closed by asking everyone to get involved, whether in the CWO as an Officer, within the Party as an Association Officer, or to stand and have the honour of representing their local communities.

The CWO were also delighted to host a busy stand in the Harrogate Conference Centre, meeting women throughout the conference and expertly manned by CWO National Deputy Chair, Tracy Stones and CWO President Pamela Hall OBE. Thank you to the CCA for all their support and to all who attended!