Next debate: Thursday 26 May 2011: Question Time debate on press freedom, overseas aid, and referenda

DATE: Thursday 26 May 2011
TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm
VENUE: Harcourt Arms, 32 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HX
MOTION: Question Time debate: Press freedom, overseas aid, and referenda

BACKGROUND:
This week the Central London Debating Society welcomes you to a Question Time style debate with a panel of four speakers offering their own views and competing to win over the support of the audience for their position on three of the mostly talked about topics in current affairs at the moment. Our three topics for Thursday's debate will be: press freedom, overseas aid, and referenda.

Press Freedom
In the light of recent super-injunction scandals of Andrew Marr, Imogen Thomas and Sir Fred Goodwin does an individuals right to privacy outweigh the public's right to know? In the age of blogging, facebook and twitter is it right, possible or even necessary to censor the press? As such we will be asking:

“When, if ever, should the freedom of the press be curtailed?”----------------------------------------------------------------------

Overseas Aid
As the world continues to be gripped by the fallout of the global financial meltdown and British tax payers are being asked to tighten their belts, defence minister Liam Fox has argued our current overseas aid commitments is incompatible with the government's deficit reduction plans. We will be considering whether bail outs and international aid should be given reform or scrapped all together and asking:

"How, if at all, would you reform overseas aid?"----------------------------------------------------------------------

Referenda
Given the most recent referendum on the Alternative Vote and the upcoming vote on Scottish independence we will be asking whether referenda are the best way to pass legislation. Should politicians be listeners or leaders? Should we be having more or less referenda? What big questions would you like see put to the people? We will be holding it's own referenda on:

"What should and shouldn't be put to referendum?"----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Further Reading:
1) Press Freedom - Q&A on Super-injunctions (BBC)
2) Overseas aid - dispute over aid pledge (Guardian)
3) Referenda - A history of UK referenda (BBC)


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.


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