Philip Richard Smith

Philip Richard Smith (born 27 July 1988) is a activist and the founder of the UK Charity Friends of the British Overseas Territories. 
==Early life==
Philip Richard Smith was born into a working-class family in 1988 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was educated at Abbey Grange Church of England High school and at Huddersfield University. He was awarded a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Business studies in 2011. 
==Political career==
In June 2004, Philip joined the Conservative Party shortly after anti-social behavior incidents in the Hyde Park area of LeedsLeeds riot blamed on police crime crackdown The Independent Newspaper. Wednesday 12 July 1995. Retrieved 14 December 2019. . In the 2008 United Kingdom Local Elections, Philip stood in Kirkstall Ward, Andrew Teale Result Guide. Retrieved 11th June 2020. part of the Leeds West constituency coming third. Two years later in the 2010 United Kingdom Location Elections, Philip was selected by the Leeds West Conservative Association to fight the neighbouring Bramley and Stanningley ward [Local Elections Archive Project . Andrew Teale Result Guide. Retrieved 11th June 2020. where he also secured third place. 
From December 2008 until December 2011 Philip served as the Regional Chairman for Conservative Future, the then youth wing of the Conservative party, representing Yorkshire and Humber. From January 2012 to April 2013 Philip was elected to serve as the National Deputy Chairman of Conservative Future National Conservative Future Election Results in 2011 The Blue Gorilla. December 12 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2019. whilst Ben Howlett served as chairman. 
In May 2018 Philip was the Conservative Party Candidate in Fairfield Ward, Croydon in the 2018 London Local Elections. He was one of three Conservative Party Candidates to come second behind the Labour party Croydon Council Election Results 3rd May 2018Retrieved 14 December 2019. . .
==Friends of the british overseas territories==
Philip founded the charity Friends of the British Overseas Territories (Commonly referred to as FOTBOT) in 2013 predominantly as a vehicle to foster ties between the young people of the United Kingdom and the sparsely located British Overseas Territories (BOTs), a group of 16 dependencies under the ultimate sovereignty and jurisdiction of the UK, having been former colonies of the British Empire. Its headquarters are currently based in Leeds, a city in Yorkshire.
As an organisation, FOTBOT host regular ticketed events that range from formal functions to round-table discussions surrounding the cultural and political situation of the BOTs; past committees have explored the possibility of BOT representation in the UK Parliament, as well as the challenges of day-to-day governance in British protectorates.
== References ==
==External links==
* The Team - Friends of the British Overseas Territories
* Career Guidance - Friends of the British Overseas Territories
* Details of Fotbot meeting - a Freedom of Information request to Department for International Development
Category:1988 births
Category:British activists
Category:Alumni of the University of Huddersfield
Category:Bachelor's degrees
Category:People from Leeds
Category:British people by political party