The Great Debate Forthcoming Events

Forthcoming Events

POLITICS in PUBS Newcastle
Interrogating the Grooming Gangs Scandal
Introduction by Daniel Stapleton
7pm, Tuesday 16^th September 2025
The Telegraph
Orchard Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3NY

Have we faced the truth about the Grooming Gangs scandal, which has subjected thousands of girls to abuse? What could have been done differently in handling these cases and what needs to change to avoid this continuing or happening again?

Come and have your say over a pint or two. Everyone welcome.
Click here for further details

POLITICS in PUBS Newcastle
Today's trade unions: whose side are they on?
Introduction by Hilary Salt, Deputy Leader, Social Democratic Party
7pm, Tuesday 7^th October 2025
The Telegraph
Orchard Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3NY

Are trade unions part of the problem or part of the solution to today's problems?

It's difficult to know whether trade unions are part of the problem or part of the solution these days. Many workers still see their trade union as an important line of defence in the workplace - representing them in wage negotiations, ensuring health and safety requirements are met, defending their right to work from home and representing them in cases where they have individual grievances against an employer. Others feel abandoned by union officials who are firmly entrenched in the lanyard class and have failed to defend workers' free speech rights, abandoned women forced to share single sex spaces with men and sneered at their many members who opted to vote Reform rather than Labour.

With union membership now below 6.5m and concentrated in public services, utilities and transport, are unions now relevant for the majority of ordinary workers? And with membership concentrated in professional occupations, are unions like the BMA now holding ordinary workers to ransom? Are the new, unaffiliated unions for delivery and hospitality workers a light on the horizon? And is the new interest in getting back to workplace basics, a return to a progressive role for unions?

This topic will be introduced by Hilary Salt, deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party. Hilary plays an outward facing role supporting the Party Leader but perhaps more importantly runs the HQ in Manchester making sure the Party supports its national membership. Previously she was a co-Founder of First Actuarial where she worked extensively with trade unions on pensions issues including supporting the CWU in negotiating the groundbreaking new collective defined contribution scheme with Royal Mail.

Join us at POLITICS in PUBS at the Telegraph Pub, Newcastle upon Tyne on Tuesday 7^th October and have your say!

Come and have your say over a pint or two. Everyone welcome.
Click here for further details

ice north east and The Great Debate present
ice breaking dialogues
The Politics of Net Zero
Coming in November 2025

ice breaking dialogues are back!

Date and venue to be confirmed

We are always planning more events - Watch this space or join
The Great Debate facebook group,
visit The Great Debate facebook page
and/or follow us on twitter: @greatdebateuk

Top of page