University of Aberdeen Conservative and Unionist Association

Aberdeen, Scotland

Chairman

Henry Carre

Honorary President

Andrew Bowie MP

Main organ

Executive CommitteeAffiliationsConservative Future ScotlandWebsitehttps://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

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.
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
Dr Nanette Milne - Former Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland.
Dr David Torrance – Author, contemporary historian, freelance political journalist.
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.
Andrew Bowie MP - Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and former Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party
Finlay Carson MSP- Member of the Scottish Parliament for Galloway and West Dumfries and Convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.
Ross Thomson - Former Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland.
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 - Daisy MacGregor
Social & Welfare Officer - Abigail Brooks
Party Relations Officer - Abigail Brooks

Chairman

2024/Present - Henry Carre
2023/24 - Haytham Alrifai
2022/23 - Marco Oosthuizen/Eitan Godsi
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

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.

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

Notable Controversies

In November 2023, a hostile takeover of the executive committee occurred after failure to adhere to a contract for a Christmas Dinner sparked outcry within the wider student body. Despite an agreement between the then Chairman and the initial contract provider having been reached, a young member of the executive committee willingly created a second unauthorised contract with another provider, placing the Association into severe debt and requiring a bailout from the Students' Association. The wronged member later admitted that their motivations were purely of personal spite against another member. Since then steps have been taken to ensure only authorised members are allowed into discussions regarding contractual obligations.