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 despite the visible left-wing activism on UK campuses, most students are apathetic rather than radical. He contends that student political engagement is at a low point compared to past decades, driven by economic uncertainty, youth unemployment, and student debt. Atwal asserts that students fundamentally want stability, homeownership, and financial security—goals aligned with traditional Conservative values of individual responsibility and aspiration. He urges the Conservative party to actively engage this generation with a concrete offer and a convincing case, rather than waiting for them to come around on their own. The piece is a call to action for the party to turn apathetic students into a Conservative generation.