Saturday September 8th at Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge
The Big Tent Ideas Festival brings together the popular literary festival format with the big challenges of contemporary politics. Following the success of our launch event last year, Big Tent Ideas Fest 18 will be ten times bigger and include:
- Inspiring and provocative conversations in our Economy, Society and Politics Tents
- Technology tents showcasing the innovations that are transforming the worlds of health, housing and transport
- Our new Global Britain Tent exploring Britain’s place in the world beyond Brexit
We hope the Big Tent will launch a movement of change, reform, opportunity, empowerment, responsibility and a renewed sense of active citizenship. We do not claim to have all the answers, but we hope to at least ask the right questions. Of the right people. In the right forum. In the right spirit.
This Ideas Fest is part of the Capital Ideas Foundation - a non-party political body to promote the benefits of free enterprise and entrepreneurialism, and the values and virtues of the entrepreneurial spirit in our society, economy and our politics.
https://www.bigtent.org.uk/programme/
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-tent-ideas-festival-2018-tickets-490…
The Big Tent Ideas Festival is a new way of doing serious political debate: bringing together the popular literary festival format with the big challenges of contemporary politics.
We believe that in a rapidly polarising political climate, bringing politically interested people from various walks of life together matters more than ever before.
Held in the stunning surroundings of Babraham Hall Research Campus - Cambridge, over 1500 people with an interest in political reform from across Britain will attend this year’s Festival to listen to leading speakers from across the world.
The Big Tent is a movement for reform, opportunity, empowerment, responsibility and a renewed sense of active citizenship. We do not claim to have all the answers, but we hope to at least ask the right questions. Of the right people. In the right forum. In the right spirit.
Come and join us. Be part of a movement for change. Insist on a better politics under a Big Tent where everyone is welcome.
It’s Politics - but like you’ve never seen it done before!
“At a time when disillusionment with traditional party politics has never been so low, the Big Tent Ideas Festival is a breath of fresh air. Three cheers for the Big Tent”. Stephen Fry
SPEAKERS
A stunning line up of top Speakers from across the Radical Centre of British politics: Cabinet, Labour, LibDem, Green and Independents. Entrepreneurs. Armed Forces leaders. Commentators. Writers. Artists.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS (More to be announced!)
- Andrew Boff - London Assembly Member and Prospective Conservative Mayoral Candidate
- Baroness Sally Morgan - Former Chief of Staff at Numbr 10 under Tony Blair
- William Cash - Editor-in-Chief, Spear's Magazine
- Theodora Clarke - CEO, Coalition for Global Prosperity
- Dr David Cleevely CBE FREng FIET - Co-Founder, Centre for Science and Policy and Chairman of Cambridge Angels
- Damian Collins MP - MP for Folkestone and Hythe, and Historian
- Matt D'Ancona - Journalist and former Deputy Editor of The Sunday Telegraph
- Charlie Duncan Saffrey - Founder, Stand Up Philosophy
- Isabella Gornall - CPF Policy Champion and CEO, Seahorse Communications
- Rachel Johnson - Journalist
- Fiona Laird - Director, Royal Shakespeare Company
- Kit Malthouse MP - Minister of State for Housing and Planning, MP for North West Hampshire
- Neil Mendoza - Chairman of Landmark Trust
- Cllr Joy Morrissey - Prospective Conservative Mayoral Candidate
- Harry Mount - Author and Journalist
- Cornelia Parker OBE, RA - Artist
- Iain Anderson - Executive Chairman, Cicero and Co-Founder New Blue Book
- Ben Roback - Cicero and Co-Founder New Blue Book
- Marquess of Salisbury - Gascoyne Cecil Estates, Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire
- Baroness Philippa Stroud - CEO, Legatum Institute
- Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE - Professor of Historical Double Bass Studies, Royal Academy of Music
- Oliver Bullough - Journalist and Author
- Dr Hakim Yadi OBE - CEO, Northern Health Science Alliance Ltd
PROGRAMME
Across a packed Festival Programme of 50 minute interactive sessions across our Politics, Society, Economy, Global, Innovation or Arts Tents
Provocative Tent Talks. 3 minute Soap Box Pitches (book yours online!)
BigTent Debates. In Conversation on the bales.
We’ll be asking the BIG QUESTIONS:
- is Western Capitalism in crisis?
- Is Liberalism dead or can it defeat Populism?
- Is party politics over? Or just adapting?
- How should society regulate social media?
- why should the young pay for the care costs and debts of the baby boomers who never had it so good?
- What’s the real cause of the depression sweeping society?
- What should Britain’s role in the world be post-Brexit?
- Is Brexit fundamentally divisive? Or can it be a moment of inspiring national renewal?
FORMAT
Enjoy a deep dive in one Tent or drift between Tents and enjoy the Festival vibe and our activities for aspiring New Generation Leaders of Tomorrow
- book a slot at Speakers Corner and have YOUR say!
- brush up your oratory in our 1:1 public speaking Surgery
- Have a go on our Street Art wall!
- Listen to the great speeches of all time & vote for your best
- Chill out in the beautiful Festival Park grounds and enjoy a stunning array of Festival Street Food and drinks.
THE FESTIVAL SITE
The site opens at 10am with coffee and breakfast stalls open at 10.15
Festival Welcome at 10.45
First Sessions In each Tent at 11am
Live Performances at 7pm
Formal close of the Festival Programme 8pm
Stay and enjoy a chill out evening of Festival food and drink til gates close at 10pm.