Guests can arrive from 6pm to meet for a drink and get comfortable before we move to the lecture room for the talk and discussion starting at 7pm sharp. The talk will be up to an hour and this will include the opportunity for audience questions. The talk will be finished by 8pm at which point we can move back to the quiet bar area for drinks and more chat. There will be a cash bar before and after the talk.

In recent years the UK has not been doing very well. Twenty years ago its average standard of living was comparable to that of its European neighbours, but it has now fallen significantly behind. It has also become more unequal: the gap between the poorest region and the richest is the greatest in Europe. There are many issues on which successive governments have made specific promises, only to regularly fail to meet them. There is a general sense that many things are just not working. Faith in government is lower than ever.

Some will argue that all that this needs is a new government, which we have recently elected, with the fresh minds and ideas and energy that go with that. But others argue that after an initial period of improvement the old problems will recur and that actually we have a crisis of governance which needs a radically new approach. John Horam has the unique experience of having been a Minister in both Labour and Conservative governments and is now a working member of the House of Lords. He explores the situation in what is likely to be a highly interesting talk for those concerned about the future of our country. There will be ample time for open discussion.

Find out more about John Horam