Rory Broomfield is Director of The Freedom Association.
Last week, Simon Richards explained the purpose of The Freedom Festival and why he felt it was important in order to help bring the broadly conservative/libertarian family together.
This week, I want to tell you more about what’ll be on the agenda at the Festival and why we’d like you to be involved.
Running from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March, it’ll have more of the atmosphere of a literature festival than a tub-thumping party conference. Above all, everything’s designed to provide those attending with ample opportunity to have their say, air their views, and influence the debate.
On Friday, you’ll be able to talk to the brilliant economist, Ruth Lea, over afternoon tea.
After watching a proper Punch & Judy show (no, not Dave versus Ed – this’ll be the real thing) at our seaside-themed party, Mark Wallace and Mark Littlewood will be looking for your support in their North v. South debate. Isn’t the north, home to the great 19th Century Anti-Corn Law Movement, the true home of freedom and free enterprise? If you don’t agree, then come along and give vocal support to Southampton’s own Mark Littlewood, Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). If you don’t get your word in then, you can always carry on the argument in the bar afterwards until 5 a.m.
Our speakers are leaders in their fields. On Saturday, Matthew Elliott, founder of The TaxPayers’ Alliance and Big Brother Watch, sets the scene with his State of the Movement address. Daniel Hannan MEP needs no introduction. From the USA, Ted Bromund, of the Heritage Foundation, will give us an American angle on freedom.
You’ll hear speakers from all angles – from the ‘Red Tory’ Philip Blond to the ultrasound Donal Blaney. The Festival will feature some of the brightest rising stars in the Westminster policy firmament, such as Ryan Bourne (IEA), Sam Bowman (Adam Smith Institute), Emma Carr (Big Brother Watch), Stephanie Lis (IEA) with John O’Connell and Dia Chakravarty from the TPA . There’ll be established political and economic thinkers like Dr. Eamonn Butler (ASI), Tim Knox (Centre for Policy Studies), economists such as Tim Congdon, diplomats like Charles Crawford, TV producers – Martin Durkin, political biographers including Robin Harris and dozens of other speakers.
See the Freedom Festival website for the current list, but more names are being added every week.
The Freedom Festival is open to people of all ages, but the hope is to get a good number of people under 30. So, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, there’s £50 off if, like me, you’re under 30 years old. Better still, if you’re a full-time student under that age, you’ll be able to attend the entire 3-day conference, including 2 nights’ hotel accommodation, all meals, speakers, parties and events for just £50.
Don’t delay – book today!