In overall charge of running The Freedom Zone will be JANE BROADHURST, The Freedom Association's Office Manager. Jane will be assisted by a great band of over two dozen (mostly) young volunteers who will be doing all they can to make this event a memorable and enjoyable occasion for everyone who attends. MORE
This is what party conferences should be all about - free and unfettered discussion on the big issues of the day, with plenty of chance for ordinary members of the public to have their say. On top of that, The Freedom Zone will be fun - a great place to meet friends, have a drink and watch the main conference on our giant, widescreen TV. There'll be a big emphasis on youth, with major involvement from Conservative Future and a TORIES GOT TALENT contest for budding young political speakers.
There'll also be interactivity at all levels, from voting in the main sessions, to video training, opportunities to go on YouTube, or just to guess the weight of the porky pies our politicians have been telling us about the European Union and much else besides. There'll be debates for young Tory bloggers, workshop sessions, book-signings, receptions, parties and a Freedom Dinner with Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer
Speakers include Chris Grayling, Lord Trimble, Daniel Hannan, Roger Helmer, Syed Kamall, John Redwood, Peter Lilley, Tim Montgomerie, Guido Fawkes, Colonel Bob Stewart, Gerald Howarth, Alex Deane, Douglas Murray, John O'Sullivan, Matthew Elliott, Ruth Lea, Robert Halfon, Simon Clark, Brian Monteith, Shane Frith, John Strafford, Graeme Leach, James Manzi, Iain Murray, Matthew Sinclair, John Whittingdale, Mark Wallace, Bruce Anderson, David Aaronovitch, John Rentoul, Jesse Norman, Don Porter and Chris Galley. See the full list here.
In addition, the Westminster Village Fete exhibition area will feature dozens of exciting stands. There's an all-day bar, a Blogging Zone, with free wifi - all in a magnificent venue, the Bridgewater Hall, right alongside Manchester Central (where the Conservative Party Conference will be held) yet outside the secure area, so no conference passes are required.
Can you afford to miss Two Days Like This? Come along - and tell your friends. MORE
MICHAEL ROCK, Chairman of Conservaive Future, will chair a discussion at 10.15 a.m. in the Barbirolli Room on the question, "Is there a place for Libertarianism in David Cameron's Conservative Party?" featuring JESSE NORMAN, Conservative Party Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford & South Herefordshire and one of the party's rising stars, and BRUCE ANDERSON, a columnist on The Independent and a legendary, veteran political commentator.
After the debate, at 11.15 a.m., THE RT. HON. JOHN REDWOOD MP PC will be talking about and signing copies of his new book, After the Credit Crunch - No More Boom and Bust.
Meanwhile, in the Green Room, at 10.15 a.m., a lively debate on the BBC will take place, in which HARRY COLE of TORY BEAR and OLIVER COOPER of KEEP RIGHT ONLINE, will lead a discussion on the future of the Corporation, with other Conservative Future members etc. encouraged to join in. Chaired by ZEHRA ZAIDI, a 2009 Conservative Party European Parliament Candidate, the debate will benefit from the involvement of an influential and knowledgeable voice in the media world, in the shape of JOHN WHITTINGDALE OBE MP, the Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport.
On top of all this activity - and in addition to its events outside The Freedom Zone - Conservative Future will also have a stand in The Westminster Village Fete exhibition area of The Freedom Zone, all day on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October. It's a very long time since the youth wing of the Conservative Party was as active or as effective as it has become under Michael Rock, Richard Jackson and the rest of the growing CF team.
With free wi-fi access, lots of chairs and tables, and great views of Manchester Central providing a perfect backdrop for interviews, YouTube videos and photographs, The Blogging Zone, on the Choir Circle Foyer (1st floor) of the Bridgewater Hall will be the best place for bloggers to base themselves during the Conservative Party Conference.
Many leading bloggers will be actively involved in The Freedom Zone, including Donal Blaney, Douglas Carswell MP, Conservative Home, Guido
Fawkes, Daniel Hannan MEP, Roger Helmer MEP, Tory Bear and the Young
Conservative. Why not join them? MORE
Chaired by Simon Clark, director of FOREST, speakers include Roger Helmer MEP, Hon. Chairman of The Freedom Association, Brian Monteith, former MSP and author of a forthcoming book, The Bully State: The End of Tolerance and Shane Frith, Director of Progressive Vision.
The meeting takes place at 10.15 a.m. on Monday 5 October, in the Barbirolli Room, at the Bridgewater Hall - in between the Conservative Home event with Chris Grayling and the Conservative Way Forward defence event with Colonel Bob Stewart. Like all events in The Freedom Zone, it is open to the public - you don't need a conference pass to attend, as it's outside the Security Zone. There will also be ample opportunity for members of the audience to contribute to the discussion.Brian Monteith will talk about the way in which the nanny state has become the bully state and will argue that the least a Conservative Government should do would be to return to the status quo ante, where we were left to choose for ourselves. He will also raise concerns that Conservatives, whilst criticising the nanny state, simply add their own pet concerns to it.
In addition, Brian will argue that examples from overseas give cause for hope and that tackling the nanny state would prove a vote winner and open up another front against the Labour Party.
With 24 speakers and events organised by 9 different organisations, Day One of The Freedom Zone will feature Chris Grayling MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, Lord Trimble, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Daniel Hannan MEP, Roger Helmer MEP, Douglas Carswell MP, John Whittingdale OBE MP, Douglas Murray, Alex Deane, Matthew Elliott, Ruth Lea, Tim Montgomerie, Colonel Bob Stewart, John O'Sullivan, Brian Monteith and Lee Rotherham, amongst others.
The programme for Day Two, to be released shortly, will feature even more events and big name speakers than on Day One. Whatever the weather in Manchester on Monday 5 October, it's looking like a beautiful day in the Bridgewater Hall, home of The Freedom Zone - right by Manchester Central, venue of the Conservative Party Conference, but outside the security zone, so free for all to enjoy - no conference passes required. MORE
The dozens of exhibition stands will include a strong youth presence and an emphasis on presenting politics in a lively and entertaining way, with lots of competitions and opportunities for people to get involved, meet leading political figures and have their say.
It will include The Blogging Zone - a peaceful, comfortable and spacious area with free wi-fi for use by all, including some of the many leading bloggers involved in The Freedom Zone, such as Donal Blaney, Douglas Carswell MP, Conservative Home, Guido Fawkes, Daniel Hannan MEP, Roger Helmer MEP, Tory Bear and the Young Conservative.
The Reading Zone will provide a space for book launches and book-signing events.
The large bar will be open from 9.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m., serving tea, coffee and soft drinks all day and will be fully licensed from 11.00 a.m. onwards.
Adjoining the bar will be a giant, wide-screen television, showing coverage of the Conservative Party Conference just across the road. This will be the ideal place to watch the conference, meet friends, enjoy a drink and network, with no need for a conference pass.
Confirmed Westminster Village Fête exhibitors include:
If you or your organisation are interested in taking a stand at The Freedom Zone, please e-mail Jane Broadhurst
TORIES GOT TALENT will be held from 5.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 October in the Barbirolli Room at the Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS, as part of the grand finale of this year's spectacular two-day Freedom Zone on the Conservative Party Conference Fringe. Admission is free and open to all - no conference pass required.
TORIES GOT TALENT proved so popular because it is both an entertaining evening and a useful experience for everyone involved. There will be full bar facilities throughout the event.
If
you'd like to be a contestant, simply e-mail Simon Richards, Director
of The Freedom Association, stating your name, date of
birth and mobile number.
The contest is open to all
Conservatives under 30 years of age. Contestants do not need to be
members of the Conservative Party or to have a conference pass.
ALEX DEANE, Director of Big Brother Watch, will discuss the question, "Civil liberties and security - are they compatible?" with DOUGLAS MURRAY, Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, at 1.00 p.m. on Monday 5 October in the Barbirolli Room, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS
They will be discussing one of the central issues of our times - how far we should be prepared to sacrifice our liberties in the name of security. As you'd expect in The Freedom Zone, there will be plenty of opportunity for members of the audience to contribute to the discussion and, being outside the security zone, the meeting is open to all - no conference passes needed.
"Why is the left so hostile to Israel?"
Douglas Carswell, Conservative MP for Harwich and Stephen Crabb, Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire will address this question at a breakfast meeting at 8.00 a.m. on Monday 5 October 2009, in The Green Room, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS (directly opposite Manchester Central, the Conservative Party Conference venue).
This inaugural joint Conservative Friends of Israel and Freedom Association meeting will be the first session at this year's Freedom Zone, kicking off the biggest and best event on the Conservative Party Conference Fringe with two of the most able MPs to enter the House of Commons at the last General Election.
To reserve a place or places, please RSVP to Stephanie Leven, Projects Director, CFI by phoning her on 020 7262 2493 or e-mailing her at: stephanie@cfoi.co.uk
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Trimble MLA PC has joined the growing list of big names lined up to speak in The Freedom Zone, the biggest and best event on the Conservative Party Conference Fringe. Lord Trimble, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, will speak at 3.15 p.m. on Monday 5 October, in the Barbirolli Room at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. He will join Ruth Lea and Dr. Lee Rotherham to discuss the cost of EU membership, on a panel chaired by Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of The TaxPayers' Alliance, which is sponsoring this session, together with Global Vision.
As with all Freedom Zone events, admission is free and open to all - no conference passes required. The Bridgewater Hall is directly opposite Manchester Central, the Conservative Party Conference venue.
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