Mamma Mia, here we go again: Why the SU’s investigation into the Tory Society matters more than you think

Image Courtesy: @helloimnik on Unsplash

Since an ill-conceived Instagram post announcing a debate about “invading Yemen” and “sinking the boats” – photoshopped over a migrant raft – attracted national media scrutiny (The Times, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sun, etc.), UCL’s Conservative Society has been embroiled in scandal. 

On January 26, the Student Union (SU) suspended the society, launching an investigation. 

But it bears noting that this was not an isolated incident – nor was it even the most recent incident, as just last week, the society violated their suspension by co-hosting yet another Port-and-Policy debate with KCL. 

In our recent editorial, we explained that last year, a debate on “reinstating the British Empire” sparked controversy. Further research, however, has made it abundantly clear that UCL Conservatives have a deeply disturbing history of crossing the line: this problem goes beyond recent leadership. 

Moreover, as we await the investigation’s results, it must also be stressed that this is not the first time the SU has taken disciplinary measures against UCL Conservatives. But, these consistently half-hearted interventions – and largely unenforced sanctions – have allowed the society to evade any real or lasting consequences for their actions. 

In June 2010, the society was criticised after sexist comments were made at a Port-and-Policy debate hosted by Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA).

As a (female) member of OUCA attempted to speak, a (male) student from KCL, who had come with UCL, began heckling her, yelling “Shush you’re a woman,” and “Kitchen, kitchen, kitchen.” Eyewitness claim that afterwards, he attempted to “seduce” her into kissing him. He was also accused of “deliberately trying to imitate Hitler.”

UCL Conservative Society denied any association with the KCL student, with the then-president stating: “We didn’t invite him or anyone else from King’s College, but he may have found out about it from our Facebook Group.” Confirming he had been “banned… from future events”, he acknowledged a “systematic failure” within the society’s administration, pledging that: “every group has at least one or two abhorrent individuals, and in the future we need to find a better way to identify ours and ban them from attending events.”

However, a Cheese Grater investigation later that year alleged that not only had the individual in question previously attended multiple events hosted by UCL Conservatives, but that same month, he joined the society on a scandal-ridden trip to Belgium where their behaviour was apparently appalling enough to provoke complaints from the general public.

Upon their return, a vote of no confidence was brought against the president. After he survived it, several committee members resigned en masse, and the SU finally took “formal” disciplinary measures: the society was officially disaffiliated, barred from accessing Union facilities, and had their funds frozen.

For one month – they were reinstated in August.

This could be a one-off. But what is perhaps most troubling is that, even now in 2024, UCL Conservatives still do not regulate attendance. A source close to the issue disclosed that the raucous Port-and-Policy meetings are flooded with outside guests, and that these interlopers are responsible for much of the havoc heard on the leaked recordings revealed in our recent Editorial.

Following the suspension in 2010, the next few years were riddled with controversies, and in 2014, accusations of a “toxic” atmosphere once again spurred the SU to action.

Several society members lodged official complaints, alleging senior society members had made racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, and ableist comments both at in-person events and on the society’s Facebook group (the very same server blamed for the 2010 controversy).

An Indian student was apparently sent deportation papers, and a Jewish student was told: “Jews own everything, we all know it’s true. I wish I was Jewish, but my nose isn’t long enough.”

After a three-month investigation, the SU finally brought down the hammer – with a strongly worded letter.

While remaining vague on the actual allegations, the SU nonetheless demanded an official, written apology be sent to all complainants. Moreover, the society would have to work alongside the Union to foster a better environment, “open to all.”

It took two weeks for students to receive their apologies, largely due to the woeful insincerity of the first draft, which failed to even address the recipients by name.

The second draft, however, proved acceptably heartfelt, and was sent out as follows: 

“Dear X,

Following on from the summary disciplinary hearing process at UCLU, we at UCLU Conservative Society are satisfied with the findings of the disciplinary panel.

We are reaching out to you to apologise for any upset caused or any misinterpretation of the actions or intentions of UCLU Conservative Society.

In agreement with the UCLU disciplinary panel, we strongly refute the presence of bullying, harassment or exclusionary behaviour within our society – and we are satisfied that the investigation by UCLU also concluded this.

However, the UCLU Conservative Society is passionate about running an inclusive and welcoming society. This is why we are happy to work with UCLU Society Development to ensure the best possible experience for members of our society.

We hope you will join us at future events so that we can together enjoy the excellent year we have planned.

Kind Regards,

UCLU Conservative Society”

Each student received a copy, presumably with their own name in place of ‘X.’

The Tab wrote at the time: “The Conservative society has been told to work with the union, although this letter should draw a line under the affair.”

If anything can be taken from the recent Port-and-Policy scandal, it is that, clearly, this letter did not draw a line under the affair.

As the SU’s investigation continues, we must ask how this keeps happening: by failing to take meaningful steps to address UCL Conservatives’ appalling conduct, the SU has enabled a culture of intolerance to flourish for at least 15 years. As the oldest university Conservative society in Britain, who knows how long they have perpetuated this pattern of behaviour.

Maybe the SU will finally enact positive change, but I’m not hopeful.

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An SU spokesperson provided the following statement: 

A disciplinary panel is being assembled from members of the Activities Zone and they aim to meet with Conservative Society in the next two weeks, with the process concluding by the end of term. The panel can only investigate complaints received about the Conservative Society within the context of the cause of their suspension.

…Society leaders are supported with training and development throughout their time in office with an emphasis on creating an inclusive, safe, and equitable experience for their members. We’re always available to help support student leaders to make a positive impact on their members and we’d encourage anyone running a group to work with us to make this happen.