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2022 Events

Drink Tank with John Penrose MP

By 2022 Events

For the first Drink Tank of 2022, we welcome John Penrose MP, the Chair of the Conservative Policy Forum, who will discuss: ‘Why the Left is wrong about poverty‘.

Penrose has been the Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare since 2005. He currently serves as the United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion in the Cabinet Office, and has previously been Minister for Constitutional Reform and Minister of State for Northern Ireland.

He recently released a new policy paper, Poverty Trapped, which proposes a host of centre-right reforms designed to tackle poverty and social justice in the UK.

Date:

Wednesday 9th February 2021, 19:00-20:15

Location:

The event will be held in London, SW1P. Attendees will be sent the exact location closer to the time.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you need to sign up via Eventbrite here.

February 9, 2022

The Roaring Twenties? A ‘One Nation’ decade of economic reform

By 2022 Events
An in-person half-day conference to discuss the big economic reforms this Conservative Government could take this decade.

The Prime Minister has spoken about leading a ‘One Nation’ Government that boosts the regions and so-called ‘left-behind’ areas. If the 2010s was defined, economically, by a period of fiscal retrenchment, what will the 2020s look like?

This conference will bring together politicians, civil servants, special advisers, opinion formers, academics, businesses, social enterprises, NGOs and other groups that are interested in discussing the big economic reforms this Conservative Government could take this decade.

The conference will feature a keynote speech from Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as well as a series of other panel sessions with leading decision makers and opinion formers. There will be ample opportunities for delegates to network between event sessions.

08:30am | Registration

08.40am | Welcome by The Rt Hon Lord Adebowale CBE, Chair of Social Enterprise UK
08:45 am | Keynote speech by Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth
09:15am | Q&A session led by Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive of Bright Blue

09.45am | Networking coffee break: Winner of the Bright Blue 2020 Tamworth Prize, Oliver Tinker, speaks about his vision of ‘One Nation’ conservatism

10:25am | Panel discussion – Levelling up: regenerating ‘left behind’ areas

  • Jake Berry MP, Chair, Northern Research Group
  • Cllr Abi Brown, Leader, Stoke-on-Trent City Council
  • Ben Chu, Economics Editor, BBC Newsnight
  • Prof Michael Kenny, Co-Director, Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Professor at the University of Cambridge
  • Michelle York, Commercial Director, Nuneaton Signs
  • Diane Banks, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Attendees can submit questions, before or during the event, via Slido here or by using the code: #brightblue1

11:25am | Networking coffee break

11.55am | Panel discussion – Levelling up: a greener economy?

  • Peter Gibson MP, Vice-Chair, Northern Powerhouse APPG
  • Cllr Oliver Cooper, Leader, Camden Conservatives
  • Tommy Ricketts, Founder, Be Zero Campaign
  • Louisa Zane, Chief Operating Officer, Toast Ale
  • Andrew O’Brien, Director of External Affairs, Social Enterprise UK and Associate Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Attendees can submit questions, before or during the event, via Slido here or by using the code: #brightblue2

12:55pm | Closing remarks from Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive of Bright Blue
13:00pm | Conference ends

Date:

Wednesday 26th January 2022, 08:30am – 13:00pm

Location:

The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5AH

There will be a livestream of the conference available to watch remotely.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but pre-registration through Eventbrite is required. Please RSVP here.

If you have any questions about the event please contact Joseph Silke, our Communications Manager, joseph@brightblue.org.uk.

 

In partnership with:

January 26, 2022

Core Strength? Nuclear and net zero

By 2022 Events

We are delighted to invite you to join an online Bright Blue public panel event entitled “Core strength: nuclear and net zero.”

Is nuclear power critical to achieving net zero? The UK will have to greatly increase its electricity supply to deliver net zero. Proponents of nuclear power highlight that it is a necessary source of low-carbon electricity, whilst sceptics hold reservations around its high cost and the disposal of nuclear waste. With Britain’s ageing nuclear reactor fleet getting ever close to being decommissioned, the debate on new nuclear is heating up.

Speakers:

  • Mark Jenkinson MP, Vice-Chair, Nuclear Energy APPG
  • Dr Simon Evans, Deputy Editor, Carbon Brief
  • Paul Spence, Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, EDF
  • Prof Robin Grimes, Professor of materials physics, Imperial College London, and Nuclear Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Defence

Key questions:

  • Is nuclear power a cost-effective pathway to decarbonising the electricity grid?
  • How will competition with renewables impact the building of new nuclear capacity?
  • How can new nuclear energy be delivered without ballooning costs?
  • What will be the impact of small-modular reactors on increasing capacity?

Q&A:

Attendees can submit questions, before or during the event, via Slido here or by using the code: #brightblue

Date:

Tuesday 25th January 2022, 15:30-17:00

Location:

Online on Bright Blue’s YouTube channel.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all on our YouTube channel here, but you can also register through Eventbrite here.

January 25, 2022

Bright Blue TV: Is Britain getting its MPs right?

By 2022 Events

You do not need a ticket. To watch the livestream, simply click here at 16:00pm on Tuesday. 

Last year, the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal dominated the front pages, as Boris Johnson failed to rewrite the parliamentary standards rulebook to spare the North Shropshire MP a brief suspension. The scandal precipitated a wave of sleaze allegations over the propriety of lucrative second jobs. Fast-forward to 2022 and front pages are once again awash with scandal, this time looking at the Prime Minister himself and allegations of illicit wallpaper and illegal parties. As the list of scandals grows, many are questioning the motivations of MPs; whether they are trying to help their constituents or just themselves. However, there is another side to the story. Last year also saw the horrific killing of the beloved local MP Sir David Amess. Tributes poured in for the humble and dedicated backbencher, and questions were again raised about the abuse and threats MPs are too often forced to endure, so soon after the murder of Jo Cox in 2016. BAME and women MPs have been particularly vocal about the disgusting correspondence their offices receive, and the Speaker, Sir Lindsey Hoyle, says this is only the “tip of the iceberg”. With all this risk and hatred online, are we dissuading the ‘right’ people from considering a career in Parliament, while we are stuck with the ‘wrong’ ones?

This episode of Bright Blue TV is hosted by Communications Manager of Bright Blue, Joseph Silke. In this episode, he will be joined by former Leader of Change UK and Conservative MP, Heidi Allen, Chief Political Commentator for The Independent, John Rentoul, and co-Director of the Mile End Institute, QMUL and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, Tim Bale.

You do not need a ticket. To watch the livestream, simply click here at 16:00pm on Tuesday. Submit questions before or during the event via Slido here.

January 18, 2022
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