Editing Conservative Future (section)

==Controversy and closure==

On 19 November 2015, the entire executive of the organisation was suspended, and the youth wing taken under direct control by the Conservative Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06q6sqs|title=18/11/2015, Newsnight - BBC Two|newspaper=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-20}}</ref> Conservative youth materials for Freshers packs no longer feature Conservative Future branding. This followed months of newspaper speculation and eventually an exposé on ''[[Newsnight]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|title = Newsnight: Conservative Future leadership stripped of their positions - The Commentator|url = http://www.thecommentator.com/article/6145/newsnight_conservative_future_leadership_stripped_of_their_positions|website = www.thecommentator.com|accessdate = 19 November 2015}}</ref> after which the entire Executive of CF was removed, one member of which was an elected councillor in Essex.

Allegations of bullying, sexual crime and blackmail were made, centring on [[Mark Clarke (Politician)|Mark Clarke]], a [2015] executive with [[Unilever plc]]. Clarke headed both Road Trip 2015 and (2006–2008) Conservative Future. Clarke was expelled from the Conservative Party "for life"<ref>{{Cite news|title = Mark Clarke expelled from Conservative party for life over bullying claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/18/mark-clarke-expelled-from-conservative-party-for-life-over-bullying-cliams |newspaper= The Guardian |accessdate = 19 November 2015|first1 = Frances|last1 = Perraudin|first2 = Jamie|last2 = Grierson|date=18 November 2015 }}</ref> after senior members of the Conservative Party considered an internal report. Allegations against Clarke had included assertions that his behaviour had led to the suicide of a young activist<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hattenstone|first=Simon|date=2015-11-27|title=Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/27/elliott-johnson-young-tory-destroyed-by-party-he-loved-mark-clarke|access-date=2020-10-06|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and that Clarke had plotted to blackmail a Cabinet Minister, [[Robert Halfon]] MP, over an affair Halfon was conducting with another Road Trip 2015 activist and Conservative Future National Chair, 30-year-old Alexandra Paterson, a public relations employee and [[Ayn Rand]] devotee.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alexandra Paterson|url = http://www.channel4.com/programmes/youth-leaders-debate/profiles/all/alexandra-paterson|website = Channel 4|accessdate = 19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Tory minister 'ashamed' after admitting affair amid blackmail claims|url = http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/619855/Tory-MP-Robert-Halfon-affair-blackmail|website = Express.co.uk|date = 16 November 2015|accessdate = 19 November 2015}}</ref>