People Like Us: Is British Society fairly reflected in Parliament? - 26 August 2008
Hansard Society/Channel 4 joint fringe meetings at this year's party conferences
Liberal Democrats
Monday September 15, 6.15pm at the Bourne Hall Hotel, Priory Road, Bournemouth
Speakers: Lord Dhlokia, Chris Huhne MP, Simon Hughes MP, Lembit Opik MP, Jo Swinson MP. Chair: Katie Razzall, Channel 4 News
Labour
Monday September 22, 6pm at Jury's Inn, Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester
Speakers: Dawn Butler MP, Harriet Harman MP, Shahid Malik MP, Peter Oborne (Channel 4 Dispatches), Lord Soley (ex- Chair, PLP). Chair: Faisal Islam, Channel 4 News
Conservatives
Tuesday September 30, 6.30pm at the Copthorne Hotel, Paradise Circus Birmingham
Speakers: Iain Dale (Total Politics), Julie Kirkbride MP, Eleanor Laing MP, Theresa May MP, Baroness Warsi. Chair: Katie Razzall, Channel 4 News
People Like Us: Is British Society fairly reflected in Parliament? asks the questions:
- How representative is ‘representative democracy'?
- Do we need to be represented by ‘people like us'?
- Given the demographic make-up of the country, why are so many MPs from a narrow section of the population?
- Why are women under-represented in Parliament? What puts them off? What can be done?
- Where are the ethnic minority MPs? Are we making the most of the advantages of having such a diverse population?
- Should we be encouraging younger people to stand as MPs? Should we reduce the voting age or the age at which people can stand for Parliament?
For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard Society on
020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk