Manraj Atwal: Conservatives shouldn't forget about universities just yet

Manraj Atwal, a History undergraduate at UCL and incoming President of its Conservative Society, argues that the Conservative Party must actively engage university students rather than waiting for them to become conservative naturally. He observes that while campus activism appears left-wing, it is driven by a small minority, and most students are apathetic due to economic uncertainty, student debt, and youth unemployment. Atwal contends that students fundamentally want security, homeownership, and financial stability—aspirations aligned with traditional Conservative values of individual responsibility and property ownership. He urges the party to make a compelling case to this generation, offering them a real stake in society, to convert apathy into conservative support.