Draft:Philip Stephenson-Oliver

Philip Stephenson-Oliver is a British politician, wine merchant and active member of the Conservative Party. He is the Chairman of the Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservative Association and was previously the chair of the Westminster Conservative Association, where he was the youngest chairman in the country when he was elected in 2022.

Early Life and Education
Stephenson-Oliver was born at Pembroke Hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells on August 2nd 1993. He has one brother He was raised in Langton Green and educated at Homewood House Prep School. His parents divorced at a young age, which preceded a self-described difficult period in his life and he changed schools several times, attending Claremont and Heathfield School.

He moved to Sussex during his adolescent years, where he was first exposed to viticulture in the local English Sparkling Wine vineyards, which sparked his interest in the subject. He went on to attend the University of Kent, where he read History and Politics. He was heavily involved in student politics, serving as the LGBT Officer for the Kent Union, the Vice Chairman of the Conservative Association and the Chair of the Classical Liberal Society.

Professional Life
Following Graduation, Stephenson-Oliver pursued a career in the wine industry. He started working as a junior sommelier and advisor at Pelham House, then as a wine advisor at Laithwaites wine. He passed his WSET Level 3 with Merit. After being furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he launched his own virtual wine tasting company, Virtual Wines. He now works with large corporate clients and stocks over 2000 wines for sale on his website.

In 2020, Stephenson-Oliver joined the Honourable Artillery Company as a Trooper, passing out from his basic training in 2021.

Political Career
After moving to London, Stephenson-Oliver became a member of the Westminster Conservative Association, taking on several roles, including Youth Officer and Vice-Chairman. During this time he received praise from local MPs, the association chair and council leader. He was elected as the Westminster Conservative Association Chairman in 2022. At this time he was the youngest association chairman in the country.

He ran for the Westminster Council in the 2022 Westminster City Council election in the Lancaster Gate ward. He ran on a platform of supporting local businesses and services. winning 980 votes, 74 fewer than required to be elected. In February 2023, his Association office was vandalised, an act he described as "senseless". Following the 2024 Boundary Changes, he was elected as Chairman of the Queen’s Park and Maida Vale Conservative Association.

Political Views
Stephenson-Oliver is a self-described libertarian and staunch unionist. He voted to leave the EU and has long advocated a more assertive foreign policy and higher defence spending. His other interests include major prison reform, focusing on rehabilitation, and the prioritisation of home ownership for young people. He believes the current levels of legal immigration are unsustainable.

Sunday Mirror Article
In July 2023, hidden camera footage purported to show drug use at a party hosted by Stephenson-Oliver was published by the Sunday Mirror. Stephenson-Oliver was not recorded taking drugs and called the footage an "invasion of [his] privacy and the privacy of others". Following this, he was investigated by the Conservative Party and the British Army. He was exonerated by both organisations and reinstated to the Conservative Party in October 2023.