| 09.00 |
|
Registration |
| 09.30 |
|
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION - MORNING CONFERENCE CHAIR
Katie Razzall (CONFIRMED)
Channel 4 News |
| 09:40 |
|
NAVIGATING THE NEW DEMOCRACY
Katie Ghose (CONFIRMED)
Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SESSION ONE: PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC REFORM – AT HOME AND ABROAD |
| 09.50 |
|
THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES
ON CITIZENSHIP AND DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Kinda Mohamadieh (CONFIRMED)
Programme Director, Arab NGO Network for Development |
| 10:20 |
|
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Angela Eagle MP (CONFIRMED)
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
and MP for Wallasey
|
| 10:40 |
|
Question and Answer Session, and Delegate Debate
|
| 11:00 |
|
Refreshments, Networking, and Exhibition Viewing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SESSION TWO: PANEL DISCUSSION –
'A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE UK' |
| 11:30 |
|
invited panellists include:
- Willie Bain MP (CONFIRMED)
Shadow Scotland Office Minister
and Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East
- Prof Thorvaldur Gylfason (CONFIRMED)
Professor of Economics, University of Iceland
and Member of the Constitutional Assembly of Iceland
Professor Gylfason won the highest number of votes in recent elections for the assembly to write Iceland's "crowd sourced" constitution.
- Dr Nicola McEwen (CONFIRMED)
Co-Director – Institute of Governance, The University of Edinburgh
- Lesley Riddoch (CONFIRMED)
- Professor Roger Scully (CONFIRMED)
Professor of Political Science, Wales Governance Centre – Cardiff University
- Pete Wishart MP (CONFIRMED)
SNP Westminster Spokesperson for the Constitution
and Member of Parliament for Perth and North Perthshire
|
| 12.45 |
|
Lunch, Networking, and Exhibition Viewing |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SESSION THREE:
IMPLEMENTING DEMOCRATIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS – AND WHERE WE GO NEXT |
| 13.45 |
|
WORKSHOP SESSIONS |
| |
|
1. NAVIGATING THE NEW DEMOCRACY
This practical workshop will help your organisation understand the range of new democratic reforms being introduced locally and nationally, and what these changes mean for your services and campaigns.
Policing and Crime Commissioners, new bodies such as Free Schools, and increasing use of the Sustainable Communities Act - along with the government's wider "localist" agenda – will significantly alter local political decision-making; referendums and e-petitions offer a fresh mode of citizen engagement; further devolution or even independence for Scotland could radically alter the structure of UK civil society groups; and Lords reform will introduce a new set of politicians. Equally new types of activism and protest movements abound.
Ensure you understand how to make the most of these opportunities for your cause locally and nationally – hearing directly from those shaping the coalition's plans, and those at the heart of effective local campaigning and community involvement.
Invited contributors include:
- Workshop Chair:
Yvonne Roberts (CONFIRMED)
The Observer
- David Babbs (CONFIRMED)
Executive Director, 38 Degrees
- Wyn Grant (CONFIRMED)
Chair – The Warwick Commission on Elected Mayors, and
Professor of Politics, University of Warwick
- Baroness Helen Newlove (CONFIRMED)
Government Champion for Active Safer Communities
Department for Communities and Local Government
|
| |
|
2. "DOS AND DON'TS" OF ETHICAL LOBBYING – THE CHANGING RULES OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
This workshop will help you and your organisation get a grip on the increasing regulation – and rapidly changing environment – of lobbying, ensuring you conduct your public affairs campaigns in the most appropriate, effective, manner, locally and nationally.
The government’s proposed statutory register of lobbyists, greater transparency and release of data, and the intricacies of engaging with a coalition government combine to create a different environment for making your mark.
Hear directly from public affairs professionals, effective campaigners, and those on the receiving end of lobbying activity on how to influence the decision-making process in the most successful – and appropriate – manner, and share your experiences.
Invited contributors include:
- Workshop Chair:
James Forsyth (CONFIRMED)
Political Editor, The Spectator
- Peter Bingle (CONFIRMED)
Peter Bingle Consulting
- Francis Ingham (CONFIRMED)
Chief Executive, Public Relations Consultants Association
- Neal Lawson (CONFIRMED)
Chair, Compass
- Alexandra Runswick (CONFIRMED)
Deputy Director, Unlock Democracy
|
| |
|
3. STARTING AT HOME:
REINVIGORATING YOUR ORGANISATION'S INTERNAL DEMOCRACY
This unique workshop is aimed at organisations who want to refresh their own internal democracy, and find better ways to involve their activists, members and service users.
Whether you are a trade union, charity, NHS foundation trust, or membership group, your success will depend on your ability to connect with, motivate and retain a diverse supporter base.
While political party membership is in decline, we remain 'a nation of joiners', and many organisations are exploring successful new ways of deepening their internal democracy – join this workshop to hear inspiring examples, and bring along your challenges for expert input.
- Johnny Aisher (CONFIRMED)
John Lewis
- Jenny Simms (CONFIRMED)
Director, Unions21
- Gisela Stuart MP (CONFIRMED)
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston
|
| |
|
4. POLITICAL REFORM: A ONE-STOP SHOP
The previous Labour government introduced a myriad of constitutional reforms – from the Freedom of Information Act and devolution, to new models of council leadership. The coalition government shows no sign of slowing down on constitutional reform, with legislation on boundary changes, individual voter registration, and House of Lords reform all in play, and well as the introduction of pilots for primaries to select local candidates, a statutory register of lobbyists, and new MP recall laws to come.
Join us at this lively workshop to hear the latest analysis from top experts, and get up to speed on the cumulative impact of these changes on your ability to deliver services and lobby effectively.
Invited contributors include:
- Workshop Chair:
George Eaton (CONFIRMED)
Editor – "The Staggers" Blog, The New Statesman
- Nan Sloane (CONFIRMED)
Director, Centre for Women & Democracy
- Lord Paul Tyler (CONFIRMED)
Liberal Democrat Spokesman in the House of Lords
on Constitutional Reform Issues
- Dr. Stuart Wilks-Heeg (CONFIRMED)
Executive Director, Democratic Audit
|
| |
|
5. MIRROR , MIRROR ON THE WALL …
WHO ARE OUR POLITICIANS AND WHOSE INTERESTS DO THEY REPRESENT?
The House of Commons now has more politicians from the professions, along with many more who have only ever worked in politics: women, minority ethnic groups, gay men and lesbians are continually under-represented – with even the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament, initially great examples of gender balance, sliding backwards.
Many campaigners rely on a few core supporters in the Commons, Lords, or locally to voice their cause, and some less high-profile issues can never achieve the critical mass required.
This session will ask the fundamental questions about who represents us, and the balance between representing their own views, their constituents, their party’s position, and other broader perspectives, as well as the prospects of a reformed House of Lords becoming more representative of the population – examining how a more diverse Parliament could help your organisation get its cards on the table, and the best routes to achieving this?
Invited contributors include:
- Dr Rosie Campbell (CONFIRMED)
Senior Lecturer in Politics, Birkbeck – University of London
- Owen Jones (CONFIRMED)
Author of 'Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class'
|
| SESSION FOUR: WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? |
| 15.30 |
|
WORKSHOP FEEDBACK, PANEL DISCUSSION AND DELEGATE DEBATE
Afternoon Conference Chair:
Polly Toynbee
Guardian Columnist
|
| |
|
invited panellists include:
- David Babbs (CONFIRMED)
Chief Executive, 38 Degrees
- Fiona Booth (CONFIRMED)
Chief Executive, The Hansard Society
- Adrian Ramsay (CONFIRMED)
Deputy Leader, Green Party of England & Wales
- Campbell Robb (CONFIRMED)
Chief Executive, Shelter
|
| 16.15 |
|
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP (CONFIRMED)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
including Question and Answer session to the Minister
|
| 17:00 |
|
CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CONFERENCE CHAIR |
POST-CONFERENCE DRINKS RECEPTION
|
| 19:00 |
|
Close of Conference |
