Question Time Debate

DATE: Thursday 17 March
TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm
VENUE: Harcourt Arms, 32 Harcourt Street W1H 4HX

The format for this week's debate will be a question time style panel where speakers will be free to offer their own perspectives, rather than simply argue in favour of or against a specific motion, and the audience will have a chance to do a lot more of the talking. We will need four speakers who will take questions from the audience throughout the night on three pre-selected topical issues before offering their final thoughts in a short 4 minute speech at the end of the debate.

To ensure we have a rounded and enjoyable debate, we'll throw in a softer, more light-hearted issue to balance out our two hard-hitting headline topics. We will end the night by asking the audience to vote for the speaker they agree with the most.

The topics for this week will be:

1) Is it the government's responsibility to protect us from ourselves as well as from each other?

Background: The government recently announced a ban on the display of cigarrettes in shops across the UK. Should the display of cigarettes in shops be banned? Is smoking a fundamental human right? Should the publicly funded NHS pay for the adverse health effects? Does the tobacco lobby exert undue influence? Have your say.

2) Should Britain suport and participate in a military intervention in Libya?

Background: As the violence in Libya continues to escalate and the British government faces up to a series of high profile diplomatic failures including the capture of a team British SAS soldiers and negotiators, what should the coalition do now? Is an intervention possible without the involvement of the United States and is the opposition right to insist it only take with explicit authorisation from the United Nations. What form should a military intervention take and what happens after that? You decide.

3) What should be England's national vegetable?

Background: Wales has the Leek and Ireland has the potato. From the traditional sprout, still ruling at Christmas, to the more colourful carrot, the soulful chick pea and the salty seaweed, what should be England's national vegetable?


Getting there:

If you would like to watch this debate, then simply come along on the night. You will find us in the upstairs dining room of the Harcourt Arms pub at 32, Harcourt Street W1H 4HX (a max 1o min walk from Baker St tube). For directions, see this map.

Admission:

Admission is, as ever, totally free of charge. All are welcome, so if you know anyone who might be interested in this debate, do feel free to bring them along.

Further reading:

Smoking display ban

1) Government announces ban on shop displays of cigarrettes

2) Smoking display ban is overstepping the mark (Spiked Online)

3) Display ban is moral obligation (Guardian)


Libya

1) Latest update on Libya crisis

2) Why the west should not take military action in Libya (Foreign Policy)

3) Military intervention in Libya is a moral imperative (Observer)


3) England's national vegetable

1) A national vegetable for England? (BBC)


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