Membership

Weekly intelligence for Conservative members of both Houses, designed to be used in the chamber.

Choose your membership

Founding membership is open to the first 50 Conservative peers and MPs.

  • First 50 members

    Founding Member

    £45 a month

    Your founding rate is kept for as long as you remain a member.

    • The Week Ahead for both Houses, with the Conservative view on each item of business and links to bills, committee and Library papers
    • Oral Questions with suggested supplementaries
    • Briefings on PMQs, conferences and major announcements
    • House information: recess dates and useful numbers
    • The full briefing archive

  • Member

    £60 a month

    The standard rate for a peer or MP.

    • The Week Ahead for both Houses, with the Conservative view on each item of business and links to bills, committee and Library papers
    • Oral Questions with suggested supplementaries
    • Briefings on PMQs, conferences and major announcements
    • House information: recess dates and useful numbers
    • The full briefing archive

  • Office

    £1,200 a year

    For a parliamentarian and up to two staff or researchers.

    • Everything in Member
    • Access for up to three people

Blue Benches is not currently VAT-registered, so no VAT is charged. If that changes, VAT will be added at the standard rate. Cancellation requires one month’s notice. Terms of membership

What membership includes

  • The Week Ahead

    Every Sunday: the business of both Houses for the coming week, with the Conservative view on each item and links to bills, committee and Library papers.

  • Oral Questions

    The Oral Questions in both Houses, with suggested Conservative supplementaries.

  • PMQs

    A briefing on every Prime Minister's Questions: the exchanges, the clash and the key takeaways.

  • Conferences

    Briefings on party conferences: the speeches, the announcements and what they mean.

  • Main announcements

    Briefings on major Government and Opposition announcements, set out clearly.

  • House information

    Recess dates, sitting times and useful numbers, kept up to date in one place.

Private counsel

An experienced speechwriter and researcher, working for you

Private counsel is provided personally by Sarah Fletcher, an established parliamentary speechwriter and researcher who has worked in Parliament since 2009 and has provided private counsel to Conservative members of the House of Lords since 2016. In the Lords she has worked for Opposition frontbench peers, and in the Commons for Conservative backbench MPs during the party’s time in government.

It is the experience you would want in a senior member of staff, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time appointment, and the work is done for you alone.

By application. Fees are agreed with you according to the level of support, plus VAT where applicable.

Enquire about private counsel

Members who move to private counsel within three months have their membership fees credited.

  • Three levels of support, each agreed with you:
  • EssentialMonitoring, briefings prepared for you and selected drafting: your interests flagged and followed through the session.
  • ProfessionalProactive parliamentary support and regular drafting: speeches, questions, amendments and letters, with openings spotted and acted on for you.
  • PremierComprehensive, tailored parliamentary counsel: a direct line, regular calls, a quick turnaround and support across both Houses.
Questions
Who can become a member?

Membership is open to Conservative members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Staff and researchers working for a member can join through the Office plan.

How do I pay?

By card through secure Wix checkout. Member plans can be paid monthly or annually, and the Office plan annually.

Is VAT charged?

Not at present: Blue Benches is not VAT-registered. If it becomes registered, VAT will be added to membership fees at the standard rate, with at least 30 days’ notice.

How do I cancel?

Cancellation requires one month’s notice. Your membership continues to the end of the period you have already paid for.

Is my membership confidential?

Yes. The membership list is private. It is never published, shared or sold, and Blue Benches will never name its members.

How are briefings delivered?

Briefings are published on this site for members, and can also be sent to you by email.

Is Blue Benches linked to the Conservative Party?

No. Blue Benches is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Party.

Can I ask for research on a specific point?

Members can suggest topics for future briefings. Research, drafting and briefings prepared for you personally are available through private counsel.