Conservatives Abroad is the British Conservative Party's global network of members & supporters living overseas. Conservatives Abroad has members and groups around the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. While some countries have just one Conservatives Abroad group, some countries are represented by a number of different groups based in different areas, particularly when a country is large and Conservative overseas Britons are spread out such as Australia, France, Spain, and the USA. History While some overseas Conservative groups had been active since the 1970s, Conservatives Abroad was not formally created until 1985. Its purpose is to keep Conservative supporters who are temporarily or permanently living abroad in touch with domestic politics in the United Kingdom, to campaign for the votes of the overseas British community, and increase the number of overseas registered voters in those communities. Sir James Spicer MP was appointed as its first Chairman. Conservatives Abroad also serves its members' interests by raising issues and concerns facing Britons living overseas with politicians, and by lobbying to reform overseas voting laws. While the party leader is usually president of Conservatives Abroad, the individual local groups are represented and governed by a group representative. Worldwide Groups Conservatives Abroad operate a global network of local groups. Originally it operated 35 active groups operating in 21 countries around the world, however, this figure has since grown. Countries and Territories References External links Organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK) Supraorganizations Organizations established in 1986