Following the disastrous General Election result Lord Forsyth with the enthusiastic support of the membership established Project Phoenix.
The clue to its purpose is in the name. A number of experienced colleagues were appointed to produce an evidence based report on the way forward for the Conservative Party. All Conservative Peers were invited to give evidence to this group concerned solely with organisational issues and not with policy matters. Lord Norton of Louth was appointed as Convenor of the group and has drafted the report based on more than 80 written submissions received as well as oral evidence.
Project Phoenix Committee
The Rt Hon. the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean PC
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Chairman Association of Conservative Peers, MP 1983-1997, Conservatives Party Member since 1972. Westminster City Councillor 1978 -1983, Minister 1987-1997 in Department of Employment, the Home Office and in Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland pre devolution.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Strathclyde CH
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​Served in the British Cabinet under Prime Minister David Cameron, as Leader of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
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His political career started in 1988 when he was Margaret Thatcher’s youngest member of the government. He was subsequently a Minister in several departments until he became Government Chief Whip in 1994. In opposition after 1997 he became leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords until 2010.
The Baroness Goldie DL
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Solicitor for over 30 years, Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2016, former Vice Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives 2005-2011, appointed to House of Lords 2013, former Government Whip and Defence Minister.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Young of Cookham CH
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MP 1974-2015. Leader of House of Commons 2010-22, Government Chief Whip 2012-14. Former Transport Secretary and Housing Minister.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE
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Active since 1964 at all levels of the Party and involved in all aspects such as organisation, campaigning, candidates, finance, and agents etc.
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President of the National Union and Chairman of Conservative Conference 1997 and Chairman of the Convention and Deputy Chairman of the Party 2000/2003.
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Member of the House of Lords since 2006 and Frontbench in opposition and in government;Chief Whip 2014/2019.
The Baroness Pidding CBE
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Member of the House of Lords since Nov 2015
Chairman of the National Conservative Convention and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Board 2012-2015. President of the National Conservative Convention / Chairman of the Conservative Party Conference 2009
Vice President of the National Conservative Convention from 2006-2009. Member of the Party since 1985
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The Lord Norton of Louth
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Professor of Government, and Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies, at the University of Hull. Chair of the History of Parliament Trust, President of the Study of Parliament Group, and Editor of The Journal of Legislative Studies. His publications include 36 books, the latest of which is The 1922 Committee: Power Behind the Scenes.
The Rt Hon. the Lord McLoughlin CH
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Councillor 1980~87
MP 1986-2019
Chief whip 2005-12
SOS transport 2012-16
Party chairman 2016-18
Whips office 1995-2012
The Baroness Verma
Businesswoman for over forty years. Parliamentary Candidate for 2001 and 2005 General Elections, wide ranging experience in the voluntary party for nearly three decades.
Appointed to the House of Lords in 2006. Opposition Whip 2006 - 2010.
Government Whip 2010 -2012. Minister for Energy and Climate Change 2012- 2015 and International Development Minister 2015-2016. Chair of the Europe External Affairs Committee and a member of the Lords EU Committee, 2017-2021.
The Lord Gascoigne
In 2006 moved to London to be assistant to the Party Chairman then with the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister. In 2008, Operations Manager, then Private Secretary to the Mayor of London; Special Adviser to the Foreign Secretary 2016-18; Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in 2019 and Deputy Chief of Staff in 2021.
Elevated to the House of Lords in 2023 and served in Government as a Lord in Waiting until the General Election.
The Baroness Browning
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Former MP (18 years). Has served as a Minister; Member of Shadow Cabinet; Deputy Chair and Vice Chair of the Conservative Party; By -Election Team and Constituency CPC Chair.
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Former Electoral Commissioner; Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; House of Lords Appointments Commission.