Bright Blue Christmas Party 2010
The second edition of The Progressive Conscience will be launched with contributions from the Party Chairman, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Chairman in Residence of the Centre for Social Justice, Dr Samantha Callan, and the Deputy Director of Policy Exchange, Natalie Evans.
Speakers:
Andrew Tyrie MP, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee
Neil O'Brien, Director, Policy Exchange
Tim Montgomerie, Editor, ConservativeHome
Date: Monday 13th December, 7pm
Venue: The Gallery, Adam Street Club, 9 Adam Street, The Strand, London. WC2N 6AA.
Kindly supported by:
Jefferson Communications
How local is localism?
With the coalition government firmly behind a radical decentralisation of power to local authorities, this panel discussion will explore whether their actions really will empower local communities, and give us more power and control over our lives. As the Coalition reduces ringfencing and provides local authorities with more say over the allocation of resources generally, Government policies in education and health show a bypassing of democratically elected local bodies, providing local groups and practitioners with power over budget streams. Are these two approaches to decentralisation complementary? Is one approach better than another, or does it depend on the policy area?
Speakers:
Ian Mulheirn, Director, Social Market Foundation.
Ann Turley, Deputy Director, New Local Government Network
Cllr Harry Phibbs
Date: Tuesday 30th November 2010, 19:00-21:00
Venue: Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons
Party Conference 2010 Drink Tank
Join us at our regular Drink Tank, this time on the opening night at conference, for a chance to meet, network, chat, have a beer and share ideas with Bright Blue.
Date: Sunday 3rd October 2010, 17:00-19:00
Venue: The Sun on the Hill, 23 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham
Refreshments available
Kindly supported by:
CityButler
Drink Tank
Bright ideas and original thinking about policy making will be central to the just society this progressive Government is trying to build. Whether you are familiar with politics and the policy-making environment or want to get more engaged, join Bright Blue and friends for our first of many Drink Tank events. A chance to meet, network, chat, share a beer and ideas about progressive policy and the future of politics with likeminded people.
Date: Thursday 12th August 2010, 18:30
Venue: Bricklayers Arms, 31 Gresse Street, London, W1T 1QS
An Event on Electoral Reform
The European Parliament Office will host Bright Blue for drinks and speeches in the garden on the subject of electoral reform.
Speakers:
Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, Vice President of the European Union.
Douglas Carswell MP, co-author of The Plan and founder of Direct Democracy.
Keith Best, former MP for Ynys Mon and chairman of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform.
Ryan Shorthouse, Spokesman for Bright Blue.
Date: Wednesday 21st July 2010, 17.00-19.30
Venue: The garden of the European Parliament Office, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1
Who Should Pay for Higher Education?
Bright Blue present a debate on the future of Higher Education and tuition fees for students.
Speakers:
John O'Leary, Editor, Policy Review Magazine
Max Wind-Cowie, Head of The Progressive Conservatism Project at Demos
Susan Nash, Vice-President, National Union of Students.
Date: Wednesday 30th June 2010, 7pm
Venue: Portcullis House, 1 Bridge Street, London SW1A 2JH
Will Robin Hood save the world's poorest?
Bright Blue, in association with UNICEF, brought speakers from across the political spectrum together to explore Robin Hood Tax proposal. Could this mechanism secure funding for vital international development projects and public services at a time when tax revenues and state spending are falling across the world?
Speakers:
Phillip Blond, Director, Respublica, and author of "Red Tory".
Dr Patrick Nolan, Chief Economist, Reform.
Lord Newby, Treasury spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats.
David Hillman, Director, Stamp out Poverty
Date: Tuesday 4th May 2010, 6pm
Venue: UNICEF UK, 30a Great Sutton Street, London, EC1V 0DU
The Official Launch of Bright Blue
David Willetts MP will officially launch Bright Blue, and our magazine The Progressive Conscience.
David Willetts MP, Shadow Minister for Universities and Skills, also has special responsibility for family policy within David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet. A former Paymaster General, Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills, as well as Work & Pensions and Trade & Industry, he is one of the most respected Conservative thinkers of recent times. David's most recent, and much acclaimed book "The Pinch" (published in February 2010) caused him to be labelled by the Guardian "a one-man thinktank right under David Cameron's nose".
Date: Wednesday 17th March 2010, 7pm
Venue: 14 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden
What are we educating for?
All are welcome as we explore the key questions: What are schools for? What is learning for? And what are we educating for?
Speakers:
Dr Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College
Toby Young
Date: Monday 15th February 2010, 7pm
Venue: The British Library Conference Centre.
Does inequality matter?
Speakers Rt Hon Theresa May MP and Polly Toynbee addressed a full house at our first event, "Does inequality matter?"
Date: January 12th 2010
Venue: Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, Westminster.
