United and Cecil Club facts for kids

The United and Cecil Club (also known as U&C) is a special group in Britain that has strong connections with the Conservative Party. It's like a dining club where members meet. The club was formed in 1949 when two older clubs, the United Club and the Cecil Club, joined together. The U&C is one of the biggest supporters of the Conservative Party, especially by giving money to help politicians running in close election races. Sometimes, people have talked about how the club donates money using rules that allow them to give large amounts without always showing who gave it.

A Look Back: The Club's History

The United and Cecil Club was created from two older groups. These groups started in the 1880s. This was after a famous leader named Benjamin Disraeli passed away.

One group, the Constituencies Union, began in 1881. It later became the United Club. Its goal was to raise money for Conservative politicians. These politicians were running in elections that were expected to be very close.

The other group was the National Review and Cecil Club. It started in 1882. Supporters of the Prime Minister, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, formed it. They wanted to publish a magazine called National Review.

These clubs were important for the Conservative Party for many years. After the Second World War, Winston Churchill helped them join together. He was the president of both clubs at the time. This merger created the United and Cecil Club we know today.

How the Club Works

The United and Cecil Club keeps its list of members private. However, in 2007, the club shared some information. They said they had about 400 members. Each member paid £100 a year to be part of the club.

The club usually meets once a month when the British Parliament is working. They have eight dinners each year. Four of these dinners happen in special banquet halls at the House of Commons. At these dinners, an important Conservative politician often gives a speech. Famous speakers have included John Major and David Cameron, who both used to be Prime Minister.

In 2006, some politicians from the Labour Party had a concern. They wondered if the club was using the House of Commons for fundraising. An investigation looked into this. It found that the club paid for the meals at the Commons. It also found that the club only raised money at events held outside of Parliament.

The club's official main office is listed in two different places. The Electoral Commission says it's at a stables in Iver, Buckinghamshire. But the parliamentary records say it's at a riding school in Berkshire.

Helping Political Campaigns

The United and Cecil Club gives a lot of money to help Conservative politicians. An investigation before the 2015 United Kingdom general election looked into this. It found that the U&C was the biggest donor to Conservative candidates. This was true for the ten election areas that were expected to be the closest races.

Between 2010 and 2014, the club gave its largest donations to certain areas. These included Weaver Vale, Bury North, Carlisle, and Cheadle. The Conservative Party won or kept control of all these areas in the 2015 election. The club also helped raise money for the Scottish Conservative Party. This was during the campaign for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Overall, the club gave over £712,000 to the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015. This made them the seventh-largest donor to the party during that time.

There are rules about how political donations are declared. The Electoral Commission says that donations over £1,500 to a local party must be made public. However, groups like the U&C are called "members' associations." These groups mostly have members from one political party. For them, donations only need to be declared if they are over £7,500. This is true even if the money then goes to local parties.

Some groups have pointed out that this rule allows large donations to be made without the donor's name being widely known. It also lets donors meet important Conservative politicians at club dinners.

See also

• Midlands Industrial Council