One last look back, before we look forward

“Conference, like the Conservative Friends of Poland, might reasonably commend that it has of late been much exposed to authors, but not without good reason. With Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in full swing, and the recent publishing of the Migration Statistics Quarterly Report in August 2011, it is no surprise that more than a whisper can be heard on both subjects. 

When looking back to our beginnings, and even beyond to our country origins, it is notable that the Normans introduced the use of surnames in the British Isles. Usually the surnames were local, describing the place where the person lived or was born, patronymic (“son of”), a profession name or trade, or a nickname. In contrast, a coat of arms may have been used by several family names in Poland boring the name of the original blood-line; origins vary and are complex. When Poles began to emigrate, difficult pronunciation and misspelling caused surnames to be changed as I found out to my surprise when delving into the family history records.

From the origins of the Anglo Polish Conservative Society to the forming of the Conservative Friends of Poland, our evolution is clear for all to see; whether it is influenced by forms of address, family names, a formal language, or the people themselves.

As my fourth visit to Conference came to a close, I thought about how far we had come and at this point, look to our team with gratitude for their efforts in shaping our organisation over the last few years. The end of this week marks not only a tipping point, but also a turning point in British Polish relations."

Thank you to all those of you who have truly supported our initiatives to date.

Yours sincerely,

Teresa Potocka
(Original family name: Potocki-Fox)

Three years on

“He may have been a Labour Prime Minister but Harold Wilson was certainly right about one thing - a week IS a long time in politics, particularly when talking about the party conference season. With the sheer amount of activity, it often feels like you’ve been at Conference for longer than the reality.

It has been a week since the party faithful gathered in Manchester and I have finally managed to reflect on the CFoP’s most recent experience.  During my time as Secretary of the organisation, it is probably one of the highlights for me both from a personal point of view but also in terms of the opportunities that come with exhibiting and being actively involved rather than staying on the periphery.

With Poland at the helm of the EU, it was particularly important for us to have a presence this year; however, I continue to be surprised at the level of support and interest the organisation has generated in its relatively short life.  

Following last year’s successful partnership with the Polish Bakery, the CFoP were again delighted to be able to provide sustenance to conference go-ers with the ever increasingly popular Polish doughnuts. We are also grateful to the Polish Tourist Office for supplying us with various literature on Poland as a tourist destination which literally ‘flew off the shelves.’

As for the politics, boundary changes were of course a hot topic at Conference and engaging the growing Polish community across the UK was a key issue for councillors and respective Conservative Associations.

It is an exciting time for the CFoP, as we grow, it will be important to ensure that there is a continuing dialogue between Conservative politicians and the Polish community in the UK to ensure that as ’we Poles’ become an increasingly powerful voice in the political landscape, we vote with our feet and vote Conservative.”




by Ania Swirski

Polish Prime Minister Visits London, 18 April

The visit to London on 18 April by the Polish Prime Minster, Donald Tusk, points to a further step in engagement prior to the Polish presidency of the EU Council which starts on 1 July.

This follows the support for EU’s growth strategy “Europe 2020” by the UK and Poland. Addressing economic growth in Europe is one of the main priorities of the forthcoming presidency. In March, both countries were among the nine EU signatories of a letter to the EU Council President and the EU Commission setting out four priorities for the post-crisis economic growth plan: opening-up the single market for services, opening-up global trade, helping start-up companies and promoting innovation.

The UK and Poland recognise their common attitudes and interests in terms of EU’s economic policy. There are good conditions for cooperation between both countries to address the economic and financial crisis in the EU through supporting growth, employment and financial stability. Both governments consider the discussion about the next EU budget for 2014-2020 as an opportunity to unlock potential and sustainable reform in Europe.

At the Press Conference after the meeting both prime ministers explained that they share similar perspectives towards the situation in North Africa and talked about the aspirations of Arab Spring. Poland’s membership in NATO and contribution in Afghanistan have been subjects of common forward thinking.

The meeting also reveals that British Polish relations have real significance for both countries and in the future of Europe. The UK and Poland strive to maintain good spirit in the debate about further investment in the EU’s Eastern partnership.

The British PM noted the huge contribution made by Poles living here. The Polish PM confirmed the friendship between the two countries.

Written by Milena Borden

Designed and Edited by Teresa Potocka