The Tory party faithful gathered en masse in Birmingham this week to venerate their unelected leader and work out what Brexit means. But how masse are we talking, including the members who took the opportunity to snooze through proceedings?
The party, perhaps mindful of its decline, has not published membership figures since 2013, when they stood at 149,800, down from almost 3 million in 1951. Estimates since suggest that it has dipped as low as 130,000. Not exactly a massive mandate, but how does the Conservative party compare to other UK member organisations?
Camra “More than 175,000”
Bannatyne Health Clubs 180,000
Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) 186,000
National Union of Teachers 210,000
Women’s Institute 220,000
Scottish golf clubs 220,000
British Gymnastics 250,000
Labour party 380,000
Girlguiding UK 500,000
Which? 680,000 members who subscribe to magazine; 335,000 online subscribers
RSPB “More than a million”
National Trust 4.2 million
