Voices of Freedom: week one

A full house (around 40 people) attended the first Voices of Freedom debate at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London last night.

Above: how last night's debate was reported on Facebook by Mark Littlewood, director general of the IEA, who chaired the event.

Next week: Big Government is Watching You: the surveillance society and individual freedom. For more information click HERE.

Join the debate ....

Join The Free Society for drinks and debate at the Institute of Economic Affairs, 2 Lord North Street, Westminster, London SW1. Enjoy pre-event drinks at the IEA courtesy Boisdale of Belgravia (from 6pm) then engage in rigorous discussion with leading writers, journalists and campaigners (7pm - 8pm).

The first of five debates is on Thursday 3 June and is entitled The Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill: laws that should be repealed or amended.

The discussion, presented by The Free Society and the IEA, will be chaired by Mark Littlewood, director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Speakers:

Professor Philip Booth (IEA)
Guy Herbert (general secretary, NO2ID)
Shane Frith (director, Progressive Vision)
Chris Snowdon (author, Velvet Glove Iron Fist and The Spirit Level Delusion)
Rob Lyons (assistant editor, Spiked)
Simon Clark (director, Forest)
Tim Cox (Liberal Vision)

There will be further debates on June 10, 15, 24 and 29 and a bq. "Smoke on the Water" riverboat party on Wednesday July 14.

For more information click HERE.

RSVP events@thefreesociety.org

Voices of freedom: who's who

I am delighted to announce the following list of speakers for the Voices of Freedom programme of events in London on June 3, 10, 15, 24, and 29 (followed by a boat party on Wednesday July 14):

• Josie Appleton, director, Manifesto Club
• Phil Booth, national coordinator, NO2ID
• Heather Brooke, freedom of information campaigner
• Dr Eamonn Butler, director and co-founder, Adam Smith Institute
• Ross Clark, author, The Road To Southend: One Man’s Struggle Against the Surveillance Society
• Simon Clark, director, smokers' lobby group Forest
• Timothy Cox, Liberal Vision
• Philip Davies MP
• Simon Davies, Privacy International (tbc)
• Alex Deane, director, Big Brother Watch, and former chief of staff to David Cameron
• James Delingpole, writer, journalist, broadcaster and blogger
• Dr Tim Evans, president, Libertarian Alliance
• Shane Frith, director, classical liberal think tank Progressive Vision
• Julian Harris, director, Liberal Vision
• Guy Herbert, general secretary, NO2ID
• Philip Johnston, author, Bad Laws: An Explosive Analysis of Britain’s Petty Rules, Health and Safety Lunacies and Madcap Laws
• Martin Kettle, associate editor, the Guardian
• Rob Lyons, deputy editor, Spiked
• Chris Mounsey, leader, Libertarian party
• Brendan O’Neill, editor, Spiked
• Mark Pack, co-editor, Liberal Democrat Voice
• Chris Snowdon, author, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist and The Spirit Level Delusion
• Paul Staines, aka blogger Guido Fawkes
• Michael White, assistant editor, the Guardian

Not a bad list, I think you'll agree. The individual debates will be chaired by:

• Iain Dale, political blogger and publisher, Total Politics
• Claire Fox, director, Institute of Ideas
• Mark Littlewood, director general, Institute of Economic Affairs
• James Panton, co-founder, The Manifesto Club;

All we need now is an audience!

RSVP events@thefreesociety.org or telephone 01223 370156.

Prior to each debate there will be a drinks reception courtesy Boisdale of Belgravia. For more information click HERE.

I look forward to seeing you.