THE FREEDOM ASSOCIATION

Watch John Redwood's Freedom Zone speech on the global financial crisis

The Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP PC was one of the speakers at a joint Selsdon Group/TFA event on Tuesday 30 September, as part of The Freedom Zone.  Organised by Kenneth Irvine, TFA's Grassroots Organiser, the meeting, chaired by Michael Fallon MP and also featuring Matthew Elliott's first speech at a Conservative Party Conference, packed out the 150-seat Kingston Theatre, Austin Court, Birmingham.  The video above is the first of three, all of which may be found on The Freedom Association's YouTube channel.

Watch Simon Heffer's Freedom Zone talk on freedom of speech in the Conservative Party

Simon Heffer's talk on freedom of speech in the Conservative Party - in two parts - is just one of many Freedom Zone speeches you'll be able to watch on The Freeedom Association's new YouTube video channel.  Just click here or on any of the videos in our FREEDOM VIDEOS drop-down list to see the full selection.  If you weren't able to attend our fantastically successful two-day celebration of free speech and free thinking in Birmingham, here's your chance to catch up on much of the action.  You'll also find over 100 photographs of the event on The Freedom Association's new Flickr photo site or by clicking on the Flickr Flash Photo Badge or the display of the five most recently uploaded photographs on the site - see FREEDOM PHOTOS, just below the FREEDOM VIDEOS drop-down list.

Freedom Zone proves a big hit

Gerald Howarth MP, the Shadow Defence Minister and Freedom Association Council Member, cut a symbolic red tape to launch The Freedom Zone on the Conservative Party Conference Fringe on Monday 29 September.  Two young TFA Members, Sam Westrop (left) and Sean Melody (right) held the tape, as Gerald, flanked by Becca Harding (left), Chairman of TFA's new Northants Branch and Lydia Smith (right) watched Gerald declare open what proved to be a triumphantly successful two days of free thinking and open discussion.  Douglas Carswell MP (left), Roger Helmer MEP and Daniel Hannan MEP were at the opening prior to speaking in two sessions on the future beyond the EU and ideas for the Conservative Party European "Parliament" Election Manifesto.  Roger described the event as "not only a major achievement for TFA, but a blow in the cause of freedom".  Click on the slideshow below to see more photos.

Don't miss The Freedom Zone!

The Freedom Zone - the biggest event ever held on the Conservative Party Conference fringe, is dedicated to putting individual freedom at the top of the political agenda.  It takes place from 8 o'clock in the morning to 9 o'clock at night on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 September at the Austin Court conference centre (above), 80 Cambridge Street, Birmingham B1 2NP, a stone's throw from the International Convention Centre, Birmingham.

Just outside the conference security zone, The Freedom Zone is open to all - you don't need a conference pass, though Conservative Party delegates and observers will, of course, be very welcome.

Freedom Zone programme:

Download TFZ001.pdf

The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain

The Plan, by Daniel Hannan MEP, a Freedom Association Council Member and Douglas Carswell MP, a leading supporter of BETTER OFF OUT, demonstrates that Britain is heading in the wrong direction.  The Plan shows how to put our country on the right track.

Daniel and Douglas will be speaking in the opening session of The Freedom Zone, on the Conservative Party Conference fringe, at 10.00 a.m. on Monday 29 September and will be on hand to talk about The Plan. 

A short walk in the Brummie Kush

With apologies to the late Eric Newby, author of "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush", we thought we'd draw your attention to just how close our Freedom Zone is to the Conservative Party Conference at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

The short stroll from the ICC to Austin Court, home of The Freedom Zone, may not offer quite such breathtaking views as the Himalayas, but it will be considerably less strenuous.  There's also excellent disabled access, straight through the ICC's disabled car park and, if you fancy a genuinely scenic route, just leave the ICC by the Brindley Place entrance, walk along the canal towpath and you're there.  Austin Court is right by the Malt House pub, at the heart of the canal network.

See the aerial map below for full details.  Simply click on the symbols and the route line for more information.

View Larger Map

The Freedom Zone

The Freedom Zone - brainchild of TFA's Director, Simon Richards - promises to be the biggest thing ever to hit the Conservative Party Conference Fringe.  Hosted by The Freedom Association in conjunction with Forest/The Free Society it will provide top quality speakers and lively debate all day long on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 September in a superb venue.  Don't miss it.  See here for details and a full list of confirmed speakers.

SUPPORT OUR ARMED FORCES

The United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA) is to hold a series of "Support our Armed Forces" fringe-meetings at the major party conferences this autumn. These including major meetings at the UK Independence Party conference in Bournemouth and the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. TFA members and supporters are invited to attend, and will be most welcome.

Friday 5 Sept at the Trouville Hotel, Bournemouth, 1.00pm-2.00pm. Speakers: Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Rear Admiral Richard Heaslip, Colonel Bob Stewart, Gerard Batten MEP.

Sunday 28 Sept at the Kingston Theatre, Austin Court, Birmingham, 1.00pm-2.00pm. Speakers: General Patrick Cordingley, Professor Richard Holmes, Bernard Jenkin MP. The meeting will be chaired by UKNDA President (and TFA Council member) Winston Churchill.

UKNDA was formed in 2007 to campaign for sufficient, appropriate and fully-funded Armed Forces that the United Kingdom needs to defend effectively this Country, its people, their vital interests and security at home and throughout the world. Its Patrons include three former Chiefs of the Defence Staff - Lords Guthrie, Boyce and Craig - and former Foreign Secretary Lord Owen.

The Freedom Zone - for free spirits and free thinkers

The Freedom Association is the lead sponsor of The Freedom Zone at this year's Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. Our partners are The Free Society, FOREST and The Selsdon Group. The Freedom Zone will feature two full days of fringe events, from 8am to 9pm on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September 2008, at the Austin Court conference centre, a stone's throw from the ICC.

Our impressive line-up of speakers will include David Davis MP, John Redwood MP, Roger Helmer MEP, Daniel Hannan MEP, Iain Dale, Simon Heffer, Matthew Elliott of The Taxpayers' Alliance, Ruth Lea of Global Vision and Caroline Boin, Environment Programme Director at International Policy Network.  More speakers will be announced shortly. The speaker meetings will be held in the 150 seat Kingston Theatre which has state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities.

The Freedom Zone will also include a canal-side coffee lounge, which can hold a further 150 guests, and outside area for free thinking, relaxing, socialising and plotting. It will offer comlimentary tea and coffee all day, giant widescreen TV, newspapers, wifi for blogging, signing sessions and media interview areas. The Freedom Zone, naturally, will be outside the Conservative Party's security zone and open to all free-thinkers, irrespective of party affiliation. Come and join us in Birmingham!