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Oliver Cooper (politician)

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Oliver Cooper
Leader of the Opposition on Three Rivers Council
In office
2023 – Present day
Preceded byCiarán Reed
Leader of the Opposition on Camden Council
In office
2018–2022
Preceded byGio Spinella
Succeeded byTom Simon
Camden councillor for Hampstead Town
In office
2015–2022
Preceded bySimon Marcus
Succeeded byAdrian Cohen
Personal details
Born1987 (age 36–37)
Political partyConservative
Alma materUniversity College London

Oliver Cooper (born 1987)[1] is an English Conservative politician and a prominent party activist.[2] He was the leader of the party on Camden London Borough Council representing Hampstead Town and is now a Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition on Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire.[3]

Career

[edit]

Cooper attended Dr Challoner's Grammar School and University College London. He is a lawyer and a former journalist.[4]

He was elected to represent Hampstead Town ward on Camden Council in 2015. Despite Hampstead voting 80% for "Remain" in the Brexit referendum in 2016,[5] he voted for "Leave".[6][7][8]

He became the Leader of the Opposition after the 2018 elections. Ahead of the 2022 Camden Borough elections, Cooper chose to move from his 'safe' Conservative ward to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat split ward of Belsize to try to increase his party's number of seats.[9] He increased his party's share of the vote and came first among the Conservative candidates, but lost to the Lib Dems, ending his career in local government.[10] Local newspapers said that he "almost certainly" would have held his Hampstead seat if he had not chosen to move to Belsize.[11]

After his defeat, Cooper became the chairman of the Watford Conservatives.[12] He was previously the deputy chairperson of the Hampstead and Kilburn Conservatives.[13] He was elected as a councillor in Hertfordshire in 2023 despite significant Conservative losses nationally.[14] He was immediately elected the group leader on the council.[15] In 2024 the Lib Dems lost their overall Majority on the council with the council going into No Overall Control.[16]

Cooper was "long-listed" for the Conservative Parliamentary selection in Cities of London and Westminster[17] and "short-listed" in Hemel Hempstead,[18] coming second.[19]

He has appeared in the national news for campaigning to hire more police,[20] highlighting some Labour members disrupting a minute's silence for Tessa Jowell,[21] securing an official rebuke of Sadiq Khan for allegedly misusing crime statistics in 2018,[22] attacking the Revolutionary Communist Group speaking in Camden Council,[23] intervening and stopping Islamophobic violence on the London Underground in September 2019[24] and helping get rid of anti-Semitic graffiti in his area in December 2019.[25][26][27][28][29] In 2022, The Times and The Daily Telegraph reported his criticism of censoring or removing statues in Camden of Mahatma Gandhi, Virginia Woolf, and other figures.[30][31] He wrote in The Telegraph in 2015, unsuccessfully asking Conservatives not to vote for Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader,[32] which left-wing commentator Owen Jones later called a 'prophetic warning'.[33]

Cooper was the national chairman of the Conservative youth organisation Conservative Future from 2013 to 2014. The Times reported that the organisation was "working really really well"[34] until he was a victim of Mark Clarke in the nationally reported "Tatler Tory" bullying scandal.[35] Cooper stood down after Clarke threatened to spread false rumours about him if he stood for re-election leading to Clarke replacing him with Clarke's lover.[36][37] He had previously relaunched the European Young Conservatives.[38]

Revitalisation of Belsize Village

[edit]
Belsize Village Streatery on July 19, 2020.
Ministerial visit to Belsize Village.
Oliver Cooper at the 2021 opening of the Belsize Village Streatery (its 2nd year of operation) on April 13, 2021.
Oliver Cooper meeting with two of the streatery organisers: Belsize Village Business Association co-coordinator Aya Khazaal and Belsize Village Business Association head of gardening Jane Lyons on July 11, 2020.

As leader of the Conservative Group of Camden Council, Cooper supported the development of the Belsize Village Streatery in the summer of 2020 as a measure to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy[39] and help continue the revitalisation of the community started by the Belsize Village Business Association in October 2018.[40][41] Cooper coordinated the release of £55,911 in community infrastructure levy (CIL) funds (£18,637 from each ward of Belsize, Frognal and Fitzjohns and Hampstead Town) to fund the Belsize Village Streatery.[42] As the first scheme of its kind after the end of Lockdown 1 of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, the Belsize Village Streatery received a ministerial visit on July 30, 2020 by then-Secretary of State Robert Jenrick, whose visit was hosted by Cooper.[43]

According to the Belsize Village Business Association, the Belsize Village Streatery "helped save several businesses and over 100 local jobs."[40] Data from Camden Council showed that amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending in Belsize Village rose 111.6%[44] year-on-year to August-Oct 2020 against an overall difficult economic backdrop. A 14-day consultation held by Camden Council in the summer of 2021 found that 91.5% of residents and businesses supported extending the Belsize Village Streatery.[45] On 10 February 2022, Cooper spoke in favour of making the Belsize Village Streatery permanent at the Camden Council Licensing Committee; the permanence of the scheme was approved at the meeting. At the licensing committee, Cooper said, "The revitalisation of Belsize Village has been nothing short of a miracle in the last two years."[46]

Electoral results

[edit]
Hampstead Town by-election, 7 May 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Cooper 2,693 50.9 Increase8.0
Labour Maddy Raman 1,381 26.1 Increase4.8
Green Sophie Dix 597 11.3 Decrease0.9
Liberal Democrats Yannick Bultingaire 543 10.3 Decrease13.3
Independent Nigel Rumble 73 1.4 N/A
Majority 1,312 24.8
Turnout 5,287 67
Conservative hold Swing
2018 Camden local election - Hampstead Town (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Stark* 1,522 14.6% Decrease 0.7%
Conservative Oliver Cooper* 1,455 14.0% Decrease 0.4%
Conservative Maria Higson 1,400 13.6% Increase 0.3%
Liberal Democrats Linda Chung 1,247 12.0% Steady
Labour Sue Cullinan 898 8.6% Increase 1.0%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Haslam Jones 879 8.5% Increase 2.5%
Liberal Democrats Will Coles 826 7.9% Increase 2.3%
Labour Sunny Mandich 811 7.8% Increase 0.4%
Labour James Slater 799 7.7% Increase 1.4%
Green Richard Dunham Bourne 243 2.3% Decrease 3.0%
Green Michael Wulff Pawlyn 175 1.7% Decrease 2.1%
Green Ramsay Short 135 1.3% Decrease 1.7%
Majority 153 1.5% Increase 0.2%
Turnout 10,390 46.5% Increase 2.8%
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
2022 Camden local election - Belsize (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tom Simon* 1,494 47.4% Increase12.3%
Liberal Democrats Judy Dixey 1,445 45.7% Increase12.7%
Liberal Democrats Matthew Kirk 1,317 41.7% Increase10.1%
Conservative Oliver Cooper† 1,124 35.6% Increase2.8%
Conservative Steve Adams* 1,106 35.0% Increase1.3%
Conservative Aarti Joshi 953 30.2% Decrease2.4%
Labour Issy Waite 705 22.3% Decrease7.6%
Labour Shaheen Ahmed Chowdhury 692 21.9% Decrease6.0%
Labour Peter Ptashko 644 20.4% Decrease6.8%
Turnout 38.4
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
2023 Three Rivers District Council election - Chorleywood North and Sarratt ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Cooper 1,081 58.8 Increase3.3
Liberal Democrats Frank Mahon-Daly 517 28.1 Decrease4.3
Green Peter Loader 130 7.1 Increase0.6
Labour Margaret Gallagher 111 6.0 Increase0.5
Majority 564 30.7 +7.6
Turnout 1,479 26.0 –2.9
Registered electors 5,681
Conservative hold Swing Increase3.8

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Pitel, Laura. "How tougher times have bred a harder edged young generation". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  2. ^ Jones, Owen (2020). This Land: The Struggle for the Left. London: Penguin Books.
  3. ^ https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/former-leader-of-camden-conservatives-is-elected-again-in-hertfordshire [bare URL]
  4. ^ "Rainbow Tories: The geek, the fundraiser and the Tanzanian immigrant's". 10 April 2012.
  5. ^ https://www.markpack.org.uk/files/2017/02/ward-results.xlsx [bare URL spreadsheet file]
  6. ^ https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/hampstead-town-hard-work-earned-us-victory-say-tories [bare URL]
  7. ^ https://richardosley.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/should-camdens-councillors-debate-brexit/ [bare URL]
  8. ^ https://richardosley.wordpress.com/2018/07/21/the-lets-work-together-speech/ [bare URL]
  9. ^ "Conservative leader set to switch wards for Belsize election challenge".
  10. ^ "Camden elections 2022: Tory leader toppled as Lib Dems take Belsize". 6 May 2022.
  11. ^ "I was leading from the front, says Tory leader who lost his seat".
  12. ^ "Former Tory leader heads to Watford after losing election battle in Belsize".
  13. ^ Booth, Robert; Halliday, Josh (10 April 2015). "Labour and Tory top brass told to stay away by constituencies" – via www.theguardian.com.
  14. ^ https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/former-leader-of-camden-conservatives-is-elected-again-in-hertfordshire [bare URL]
  15. ^ https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23554907.former-camden-tories-leader-takes-three-rivers-role/ [bare URL]
  16. ^ https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/services/elections-and-democracy/election-results [bare URL]
  17. ^ https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/hopefuls-line-up-for-the-new-two-cities [bare URL]
  18. ^ https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pnum=15&edid=e0a362dc-23c4-4987-80e8-b94300a70547&isshared=true [bare URL]
  19. ^ https://x.com/tomorrowsmps/status/1791360809097953645 [bare URL]
  20. ^ Telegraph, 26 September 2015, as cited in Johnson, Steve; Roffe, Graeme (2016). OCR GCSE (9–1) Citizenship Studies. London: Hodder Education.
  21. ^ Yorke, Harry; Ryan, Verity (29 May 2018). "Labour members outraged as far-Left activists disrupt minute's silence to Tessa Jowell". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. ^ Correspondent, Fiona Hamilton | Richard Ford, Home. "Sadiq Khan rebuked for misusing crime figures". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 13 June 2020. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Nellist, Tom (21 January 2019). "'Hateful' hard-left campaigners CONDEMNED for protesting council's antisemitism campaign". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Camden Tory leader intervenes in Islamophobic abuse". Metro. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  25. ^ "'Shock and horror' as antisemitic graffiti daubed on London shops and synagogue". Sky News.
  26. ^ Gibbons, Katie. "London synagogue and shops targeted in racist attack" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  27. ^ Sheridan, Danielle (29 December 2019). "Police patrols increase at London synagogue in wake of New York stabbings after anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on shop fronts". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  28. ^ Bowcott, Owen (29 December 2019). "London synagogue and shops targeted with antisemitic graffiti" – via www.theguardian.com.
  29. ^ "Anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on shops and cafes". BBC News. 29 December 2019.
  30. ^ Simpson, Craig (15 February 2022). "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Author drawn into statue row as council reviews her memorial". The Telegraph.
  31. ^ "Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury bust put on racism list".
  32. ^ Cooper, Oliver (28 July 2015). "Tories, don't vote for Jeremy Corbyn. It won't end well" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  33. ^ Jones, Owen (2020). This Land: The Struggle for the Left. London: Penguin Books.
  34. ^ Fisher, Billy Kenber and Lucy. "Youth leader stood down after drug dealing threat" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  35. ^ Reporter, Billy Kenber, Investigations. "Tories ignored claims of bullying in youth wing for a year, leaked emails reveal" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Fisher, Billy Kenber and Lucy. "How ego trip led the Tories into crisis" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  37. ^ Fisher, Billy Kenber and Lucy. "Youth leader stood down after drug dealing threat" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  38. ^ "BBC Three - Free Speech, Series 2 - Oliver Cooper". BBC.
  39. ^ Boniface, Michael (24 June 2020). "Alfresco summer dining plans for 100 outdoor tables will put Belsize Village 'on the map'". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  40. ^ a b "We plan to relaunch the streatery on April 13". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  41. ^ Rowlinson, Liz (3 March 2022). "Belsize Park's homebuyers stay for the long term". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  42. ^ "The streatery has been amazing for Belsize Village". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  43. ^ "Local government secretary Robert Jenrick: Get out there and don't waste the summer". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  44. ^ Camden Council (2021). Camden Future High Streets. London Borough of Camden: Camden Council. p. 17.
  45. ^ Boniface, Michael (16 July 2021). "Belsize Village streatery survey results revealed". Hampstead Highgate Express. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Al fresco dining to continue in Belsize Village as councillors make 'miracle' pandemic scheme permanent". Camden Citizen. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
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