CONSERVATIVE
By Lucas Taylor
Just a few hours before Kevin Ghateh launched his campaign to stay on as National Chair of the Young Conservatives he spoke to The Crossbench about the upcoming campaign season and what he envisions for the organisation in the future.
Kevin began by talking about when he joined the party at the age of 15 admitting going to campaign sessions and “feeling like an outside.” Becoming actively involved again in the 2022 elections as a paper candidate. Progressing over the years to become chair of his YC branch and handling a merger, building what he described as the “most successful branch in the country.”
Becoming the London Regional Chair in 2025 working on bringing together and connecting with branches across the city. Later that year he became Chair after being elected by the Regional Chairs. When asked about how it felt entering the role after one of the worst defeats for the party he explained the many challenges he faced when entering the role, the main one being how inactive it became with the “last social media post being when Rishi Sunak resigned.” Leading him with the task of rebuilding the Young Conservatives from just a concept with no structure and lacking party recognition to introducing the National Committee and bringing a variety of ideas and skills to lay the foundations, introducing many YC branches across the country, and much more behind the scenes. With his number one commitment at the time being to form a constitution and to hold an election to let members have their say on who leads the organisation, at the end he stated “but there’s a lot more to be done.”
When asked about the election he said how he did wish to have a wider variety of candidates from different parts of the country, like Chase Blount who he credited to doing a good job. Saying on the possible applicants “there’s a lot of really capable Young Conservatives I would’ve hoped to have seen stand, a lot of them have decided to back me which is why they didn’t stand.” “Hoping that they will put their candidacy during the next Chair elections.” Ending the conversation on what the election holds regardless of the result is that it shows the talent and dedication the organisation holds.
Talking about what the role of Chair holds and his future plans he explained what was needed to lay down the foundations, before he had a team, “the social media was basically all me,” reflecting from the late nights coming home from work with his priority to keep the accounts running. He explained that he wasn’t going to announce any concrete plans at the campaign launch so that the members’ voices and ideas are fully embraced, ensuring that they are put at the heart of his policies. Saying that he has only half finished the job, and before he “disappears” he would like to see the job be done.
Whilst not having concrete plans Kevin has key ideas for the organisation to grow and develop under another term. The number one thing being “visibility” to show that the YC is for tomorrow’s leaders, with a mandate he could push the party to allow the organisation to expand, as “you can’t really do anything without members, they’re the heart of any organisation, particularly the Young Conservatives,”. Alongside supporting branches to allow them to grow and thrive with clear communication channels, merchandise, streamlined speaker bookings, the right tools to do their best. Finally, social media as “there’s this blank canvas with their youth wings” whether that be “Reform’s that doesn’t exist,” or “The Green Party that’s basically nutjobs.” Believing that the Young Conservatives can be the movement to better our future with radical policies to provide the right opportunities.
Ending the conversation on a hope that these elections will not be a ‘Blue on Blue’ fight and will oversee clean campaigns, as this election can show that the organisation will bring the community together and show professionalism. Offering his support to the other candidates if he does not win. When talking about his supporters he stated that the first thing he said to his them on his campaign groups “I want a clean positive campaign, I don’t want anyone poking fun at any candidates, I don’t want any drama,” as “It doesn’t just reflect badly on me or the other candidates, it reflects badly on every single member.” Welcoming a positive campaign across the board and good luck to the other candidates.