John Strafford is a tireless campaigner for greater democracy within the Conservative Party and chairs the Campaign for Conservative Democracy. In 2009, he wrote Our Fight for Democracy – a history of democracy in the United Kingdom. He was also the Chairman of the Conservative Yes Campaign in the 2011 referendum on the Alternative Vote.
John was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire in 1942 He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1966.
In 1968 he married Caroline and they have three sons, Guy, Ian and Peter. After a career in business he retired in 2007. He and Caroline live in Beaconsfield.
He joined the Conservative Party in 1964, and was a Councillor for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea from 1968 to 1974. He has served at nearly all levels of the Conservative Party including as a member of the Party’s National Union Executive Committee for nine years and three years on the Conservative Board of Finance.
John is also an experienced media commentator having made numerous TV and Radio appearances including on Newsnight, the Today programme, Week in Westminster, The World Tonight and World at One.
