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Policy Initiatives & Methods Committee (later, the Tactical Committee), Feb 1966-Sep 1974

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From at least February 1966 a Policy Initiatives and Methods Committee operated under the chairmanship of Sir Michael Fraser, Deputy Party Chairman. In August 1966 the Party Chairman instituted a new series of weekly meetings – the Chairman's Committee (from 1975, the Management Committee) – representing all areas of the Party as the now defunct Liaison Committee had done. The Policy Initiatives & Methods Committee worked in conjunction with, and reported to, the Chairman's Committee, often submitting memoranda to it containing summaries of its deliberations. Its role was clarified as being 'to cover preliminary discussion on the Talking Points and the Weekly News' [Source: shelfmark: CCO 20/62/1]. From July 1970 it was known as the Tactical Committee, with a revised membership and terms of reference – some of its former functions presumably being taken over by the revived Liaison Committee following the Conservatives' return to power. It usually met weekly, on Tuesdays, except during general election campaigns when it met daily (and was called the Tactical Group). Between July-November 1971 it was temporarily known as the Tactical and European Committee during the debate over the Britain's entry into the EEC.

Its remit went beyond the daily tactical response to the political battle and regular items on its agenda were party conference arrangements and themes, by-elections, party political broadcasts, other publicity such as TV coverage and Weekend Talking Points.

Dates

  • Creation: Feb 1966-Sep 1974

Language of Materials

  • English

Full range of shelfmarks:

CCO 20/7/2-21

Related Materials

[For minutes and papers of this committee, Feb 1966-Jun 1970, see series: CRD 3/24/17a-d. For correspondence and memoranda, Nov 1966-Sep 1968, see shelfmark: CCO 600/17/14].

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
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Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom