Matthew Lewis has established a reputation as a hard-working and innovative member of Conservative Future, and the wider Party, noted for his diplomatic and balanced approach to politics. Within Staffordshire over the last three years he has come to be considered a useful member of any team, and has been a vital part of much of the Party's work in the county, especially at CF level where he has been responsible for founding new, and strengthening existing branches. Matthew was born 22nd February 1985 in Winchester, England. He grew up in the Hampshire market town of Petersfield, attending Churcher's College until 2001, then leaving to study A-levels at Godalming College. He moved to Staffordshire in 2003 to read a degree in 'Law and Politics' at Keele University. He spent eight months of his degree studies on an international exchange at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. Away from politics Matthew is a keen sportsman, playing football, squash and golf. He also enjoys scuba diving, and prior to leaving for his time in South Africa, was a member of the Territorial Army, in which he was marked as a potential officer after being ranked first overall in his intake. He is also an ardent supporter of social values and justice, views heightened by his experiences abroad in countries such as China, Mongolia and South Africa, in which he has been involved in community projects involving disadvantaged children. He has previously been a live music correspondent for Concourse Music, and has co-hosted a weekly show on KUBE radio. Matthew currently resides in the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, with his partner Jenna. Political CV In the 2004 European Elections (the first elections at which he was eligible to vote) Matthew voted for the Green Party, though the ever improving Conservatives appealed domestically and he joined the Conservative Party in January 2005. He immediately became heavily involved within the party locally, being elected Deputy Chairman Political of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele CF (NKCF) and gaining a seat on the executive of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Conservative Association (NCA) in May of that year. In the same month he worked full time on the National and Local elections as an aide, in particular to Parliamentary candidate Jeremy Lefroy and councillors Simon Tagg and Glennis Deakin, and was an important part of the team which ate into Labour's majority in the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency. Having assisted NKCF Executive Chairman Owen Meredith in making NKCF the largest political-party affiliated student or youth organisation within the constituency, Matthew attended the 2005 party conference in Blackpool as a delegate for the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, meeting with each of the four candidates for the party leadership following Michael Howard's resignation, as well as other key figures within the party. Following David Cameron's victory, Matthew attended an invitational event with 20 or so other leading young members of the party with Mr Cameron to discuss strategies for increasing the party's share of the youth vote. In January 2006 he resigned his position on the executive of NKCF in order to spend 7 months on a study exchange programme at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where he fostered contacts within the country's Democratic Alliance party. Upon his return to Staffordshire in September he was re-elected back onto the executives of both NKCF and NCA, returning to his former role as NKCF Deputy Chairman Political, as well as being appointed Deputy Area Chairman for Staffordshire CF. Following Owen Meredith's selection as candidate for the Keele ward for the May 2007 local elections Matthew was appointed his agent, as well as also running the Keele Parish Council election campaign for five candidates. At the 2007 NKCF AGM that same month, Matthew was elected as Constitutional Chairman by a convincing margin. He resigned his position with NKCF in February 2008 and was elected to the role of Staffordshire Area CF Chairman. Currently, Matthew works as an aide for Jeremy Lefroy, PPC for Stafford. Political Allegiance Member of the UK Conservative Party since January 2005. Positions Held Political aide to cllr. Jeremy Lefroy (parliamentary) and cllrs. Simon Tagg (borough) and Glennis Deakin (county), 2005 General Election Deputy Chairman Political, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele Conservative Future, May 2005 - January 2006, September 2006 - May 2007 Executive Member, Newcastle-under-Lyme Conservative Association, May 2005 - January 2006, September 2006 - Present Area Deputy Chairman, Staffordshire CF, September 2006 - March 2008 Agent to Owen Meredith (borough), and others (parish), 2007 Local Election Constitutional Chairman, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele Conservative Future, May 2007 - Present Political aide to Jeremy Lefroy, PPC for Stafford - October 2007 - Present Area Chairman, Staffordshire CF, March 2008 - Present Executive Member, Stafford Area Management Executive Education Churcher's College 1996-2001 Godalming College 2001-2003 University of Keele 2003-2008 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 2006